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Definitions

collateral damage

NOUN

unintentional damage to non-military people or property during war

Synonyms

WEAK

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Multiyear conversions often reduce this collateral damage and remain one of the most reliable, low-error strategies for reducing taxes over time.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

This targeted approach allows the immune system to remove threats efficiently while minimizing collateral damage to nearby tissue.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2026

Of course, this is only the beginning of a tit-for-tat spite fest that yields terrible collateral damage.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

“The fear is that being collateral damage in the war extends into peace, and this is something we wouldn’t accept and need to work against.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Which led to all the collateral damage . . . which made her feel like Godzilla.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell