English Synonyms and Antonyms

Injury (L. in, not, and jus, juris, right, law) signifies primarily something done contrary to law or right; hence,
something contrary to some standard of right or good; whatever reduces the value, utility, beauty, or
desirableness of anything is an injury to that thing; of persons, whatever is so done as to operate adversely to
one in his person, rights, property, or reputation is an injury; the word is especially used of whatever mars the
integrity of the body or causes pain; as, when rescued from the wreck his injuries were found to be very slight.
Injury is the general term including all the rest. Damage (L. damnum, loss) is that which occasions loss to the
possessor; hence, any impairment of value, often with the suggestion of fault on the part of the one causing it;
damage reduces value, utility, or beauty; detriment (L. deterere, to rub or wear away) is similar in meaning,
but far milder. Detriment may affect value only; damage always affects real worth or utility; as a rule, the
slightest use of an article by a purchaser operates to its detriment if again offered for sale, tho the article may
have received not the slightest damage. Damage is partial; loss is properly absolute as far as it is predicated at
all; the loss of a ship implies that it is gone beyond recovery; the loss of the rudder is a damage to the ship;
but since the loss of a part still leaves a part, we may speak of a partial or a total loss. Evil commonly suggests
suffering or sin, or both; as, the evils of poverty, the social evil. Harm is closely synonymous with injury; it
may apply to body, mind, or estate, but always affects real worth, while injury may concern only estimated
value. A hurt is an injury that causes pain, physical or mental; a slight hurt may be no real harm. Mischief is
disarrangement, trouble, or harm usually caused by some voluntary agent, with or without injurious intent; a
child's thoughtless sport may do great mischief; wrong is harm done with evil intent. An outrage combines
insult and injury. Compare synonyms for BLEMISH; CRIMINAL; INJUSTICE.
Antonyms:
advantage, benefit, boon, improvement, service, amelioration, blessing, help, remedy, utility.
Prepositions:
The injury of the cause; an injury to the structure; injury by fire; by or from collision, interference, etc.
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INJUSTICE.
Synonyms:
grievance, injury, unfairness, unrighteousness, wrong. iniquity,
Injustice is a violation or denial of justice, an act or omission that is contrary to equity or justice; as, the
injustice of unequal taxes. In legal usage a wrong involves injury to person, property, or reputation, as the
result of evil intent; injustice applies to civil damage or loss, not necessarily involving injury to person or
property, as by misrepresentation of goods which does not amount to a legal warranty. In popular usage,
injustice may involve no direct injury to person, property, interest, or character, and no harmful intent, while
wrong always involves both; one who attributes another's truly generous act to a selfish motive does him an
injustice. Iniquity, in the original sense, is a want of or a deviation from equity; but it is now applied in the
widest sense to any form of ill-doing. Compare synonyms for CRIMINAL; SIN.
Antonyms:
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
180

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equity, faithfulness, impartiality, lawfulness, righteousness, fairness, honesty, integrity, rectitude, uprightness.
fair play, honor, justice, right,
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INNOCENT.
Synonyms:
blameless, guiltless, inoffensive, spotless, clean, harmless, pure, stainless, clear, immaculate, right, upright,
faultless, innocuous, righteous, virtuous. guileless, innoxious, sinless,