# hurt someone's feelings

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hurt-someones-feelings
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To offend or emotionally hurt someone.

## Examples

- I did not mean to hurt your feelings.
- She chose her words carefully because she did not want to hurt his feelings after his bad performance.
- Although the critique was intended to be constructive, the harsh tone of the feedback inadvertently hurt the feelings of the young artist.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.