collateral damage

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.

“Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

But the world’s population giant is experiencing collateral damage anyway, at an already challenging time.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

They are real human beings and not collateral damage.

From Salon • Mar. 3, 2026

There are those not only livid with Lord Mandelson, but livid at the collateral damage being done to the prime minister.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

She had not wanted their family to become collateral damage in a war that had no discernible fronts, no real shape, and no rules.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers