Synonyms damage
These words all mean to have a bad effect on somebody/something.
damage to cause physical harm to something, making it less attractive, useful or valuable; to have a bad effect on somebody/something’s life, health, happiness or chances of success: The fire badly damaged the town hall.
emotionally damaged children
hurt (rather informal) to have a bad effect on somebody/something’s life, health, happiness or chances of success: Hard work never hurt anyone.
harm to have a bad effect on somebody/something’s life, health, happiness or chances of success: Pollution can harm marine life.
damage, hurt or harm?
Hurt is slightly less formal than damage or harm, especially when it is used in negative statements: It won’t hurt him to have to wait a bit. • It won’t damage/harm him to have to wait a bit. Harm is also often used to talk about ways in which things in the natural world such as wildlife and the environment are affected by human activity.
impair (rather formal) to damage somebody’s health, abilities or chances: Even one drink can impair driving performance.
Patterns
to damage/hurt/harm/impair somebody’s chances
to damage/hurt/harm somebody’s interests/reputation
to damage/harm/impair somebody’s health
to seriously/greatly damage/hurt/harm/impair somebody/something
to badly/severely damage/hurt/impair somebody/something