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REFERENCE

damaged

adj. · v.
US //ˈdæmədʒd// UK //dˈæmɪdʒd// dam·aged
  1. 1 physically broken or spoiled (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    broken, scratched, or harmed so that it is no longer in perfect condition.

    having suffered physical harm that impairs value, appearance, or function.

    Example

    The delivery company replaced the damaged box because the screen inside was cracked.

    Example

    The insurance adjuster noted that the damaged structural beams would require complete replacement rather than simple cosmetic repairs.

    Usage

    Often used with adverbs like 'badly', 'severely', or 'slightly'.

    Pitfall
    The car was very damage after the accident.
    The car was very damaged after the accident.

    Use the '-ed' ending to describe the state of the object.

  2. 2 emotionally or reputationally harmed (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    harmed in a way that is not physical, such as a person's feelings or a company's reputation.

    suffering from psychological harm or a loss of reputation and credibility.

    Example

    The scandal left the politician with a damaged reputation that was hard to fix.

    Example

    Psychologists worked with the refugees to address the needs of children who had been emotionally damaged by the conflict.

    Usage

    Commonly collocates with 'reputation', 'credibility', or 'psyche'.

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  1. 3 past action of harming (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    the past tense of 'damage', meaning you harmed something earlier.

    the past tense and past participle form of the transitive verb 'damage'.

    Example

    The heavy hail damaged several cars parked on the street last night.

    Example

    The legal team argued that the defendant's actions had directly damaged the plaintiff's ability to conduct business in the region.

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