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.

Driving Indian officials is a fear that the world’s most populous country could become collateral damage in the AI race.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

But Dublin feels Hull have become "collateral damage" in a case which does not even involve them.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

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

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

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell