[in.jure] vt in.jured ; in.jur.ing [ME enjuren, fr. MF enjurier, fr. LL injuriare, fr. L injuria injury] (15c) 1 a: to do an injustice to: wrong b: to harm, impair, or tarnish the standing of c: to give pain to "~ a person's pride"
2. a: to inflict bodily hurt on b: to impair the soundness of c: to inflict material damage or loss on -- in.jur.er n syn injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar mean to affect injuriously. injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success "badly injured in an accident". harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss "careful not to harm the animals". hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings "hurt by their callous remarks". damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness "a table damaged in shipping". impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution "years of smoking had impaired his health". mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement "the text is marred by many typos".