Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or quality of being hurtful or detrimental; injuriousness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The property of being hurtful.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

hurtful +‎ -ness

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word hurtfulness.

Examples

  • Not by reasoning, not by the five senses alone, but by other and remoter and uncharted senses, came the feeling to White Fang that the man was ominous with evil, pregnant with hurtfulness, and therefore a thing bad, and wisely to be hated.

    The Mad God 2010

  • It's easy to cast a critical eye on the methods, styles, imperfections, unintentional hurtfulness, and ways our mother's caring communication seemed to go awry.

    Dr. Cheryl Pappas: Mother's Day: It's Complicated 2010

  • When a "dependent" is not given what they want, and they are not equipped with proper communication skills and coping mechanisms, they can tend towards disrespectful rage and hurtfulness to deal with their uncomfortable frustration.

    Alanna Zabel: The Passion of Mel 2010

  • Nowhere was this hurtfulness more evident than in Gingrich's private life.

    Nigel Hamilton: The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree 2010

  • Nowhere was this hurtfulness more evident than in Gingrich's private life.

    Nigel Hamilton: The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree Nigel Hamilton 2010

  • When a "dependent" is not given what they want, and they are not equipped with proper communication skills and coping mechanisms, they can tend towards disrespectful rage and hurtfulness to deal with their uncomfortable frustration.

    Alanna Zabel: The Passion of Mel 2010

  • Though I would speak of its hurtfulness, it was my sensitivity that was ultimately deemed the problem.

    What Can White Women Do? Renee 2009

  • As for the rest – you'll have to unpack why the inherent hurtfulness of murder is an issue for hate speech; and, indeed, what you mean by "extra-legal sanctions".

    A New Weapon Against Freedom and ID: Volksverhetzung 2007

  • As for the rest – you'll have to unpack why the inherent hurtfulness of murder is an issue for hate speech; and, indeed, what you mean by "extra-legal sanctions".

    A New Weapon Against Freedom and ID: Volksverhetzung 2007

  • Though I would speak of its hurtfulness, it was my sensitivity that was ultimately deemed the problem.

    Archive 2009-05-01 Renee 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.