wounding
/ˈwuːndɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈundɪŋ] /ˈwuːndɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /wuːnd/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈundɪŋ] /wuːnd/ (ame, ipa)
wounding — adjective
- woundingpositive
- more woundingcomparative
- most woundingsuperlative
1. describing words, looks, or behaviour that cause someone strong emotional pain,
describing words, looks, or behaviour that cause someone strong emotional pain, often because they feel cruel or personal
Renata still remembers the wounding comment her aunt made about her weight years ago.
attributive: wounding + noun (comment, remark, words)
The coach's wounding silence after the loss hurt the players more than any shouting could have.
wounding can modify abstract nouns like silence or look
Christopher apologised for his wounding email and said he had written it in anger.
Some of the things Ishaan said during the argument were deeply wounding to his sister.
The judge described the online posts as wounding and entirely without basis in fact.
文法句型
a wounding + noun
be wounding to + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually words, remarks, or behaviour aimed at a person; rarely used of purely physical things. Distinguish from 'hurtful', which is more general and less formal.
常見錯誤
wounding — noun
1. in legal English, the act of injuring another person's body, especially by cutti
in legal English, the act of injuring another person's body, especially by cutting or piercing the skin with a weapon
Folake faces charges of malicious wounding after the fight outside the nightclub.
legal collocation: malicious wounding / unlawful wounding
The hospital reported a sharp rise in knife woundings across the city last year.
countable plural: 'knife woundings' as separate incidents
Doctors must report any wounding by a firearm to the local police within 24 hours.
Sivan was sentenced to four years in prison for the unlawful wounding of a security guard.
The report listed twelve serious woundings in the area during the holiday weekend.
文法句型
wounding of + person
a wounding + with + weapon
用法筆記
Mostly seen in legal, medical, and news writing. In ordinary speech, people say 'injury' or name the specific wound ('a stab wound', 'a cut'). The plural 'woundings' refers to separate incidents, not separate injuries on one person.
常見錯誤
2. deep emotional pain caused by what someone says or does, especially when it touc
deep emotional pain caused by what someone says or does, especially when it touches a person's pride, beliefs, or sense of self
The novel explores the slow wounding of a marriage by years of small dishonesties.
abstract subject of wounding (a relationship, pride, trust)
Rania spoke openly about the deep wounding she felt when her colleagues excluded her.
There was a quiet wounding in the way Mizuki looked at her father after the argument.
Years of public mockery left a lasting wounding that no apology could fully repair.
- healing
the recovery of emotional well-being
文法句型
the wounding of + abstract noun
deep wounding
用法筆記
More literary and formal than 'hurt' or 'pain'. Common with intensifiers like 'deep', 'lasting', 'quiet'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is never about physical injury — context will be feelings, pride, or a relationship.
wounding — verb
- woundingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- woundings3rd person singular
- woundinging-ing form
- woundingedpast simple
1. present participle of wound: causing a cut, hole, or other bodily injury to a pe
present participle of wound: causing a cut, hole, or other bodily injury to a person or animal, usually with a weapon
The hunter was charged with wounding a deer and leaving it to die in the forest.
wounding + animal, formal/legal context
Élise was arrested for wounding a neighbour during a heated dispute over a parking space.
wounding + person + during + event
The soldiers were accused of wounding civilians while clearing the village.
Anong is recovering at home after wounding her hand on a broken glass last night.
Tamás admitted to wounding the dog by accident while chopping firewood in the yard.
- healing
restoring the body after injury
文法句型
wounding + person/animal
wounding + person + with + weapon
用法筆記
This is the -ing form of the verb 'wound' (rhymes with mooned), used after 'be' for ongoing action or after prepositions like 'of', 'by', 'after'. Not related to 'wound' (rhymes with sound) meaning to coil — that has different past forms.
常見錯誤
2. present participle of wound: causing someone strong emotional pain, especially t
present participle of wound: causing someone strong emotional pain, especially through harsh words or unfair treatment
Abigail did not realise she was wounding her brother every time she compared him to their cousin.
wounding + person + by + comparison/action
The reporter apologised for wounding the family with such personal questions at the funeral.
wounding + person + with + words
Without meaning to, Matthew kept wounding his daughter by dismissing her career choices.
Jason ended the friendship after years of wounding remarks about his appearance.
- comforting
easing someone's emotional pain
文法句型
wounding + person + with + words
用法筆記
Common after 'be', 'keep', 'risk', or as a gerund. The object is the person whose feelings are hurt; the cause (words, actions) often appears with 'by' or 'with'.