adjective

• 1(of a circumstance or piece of evidence) strongly suggesting guilt or error.

  ‘presented with damning affidavits’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Each witness sits on the witness chair and delivers a piece of damning evidence.’
  • ‘If his hair and Natalee's hair is on it, yes it'll be very damning evidence and possibly proof beyond a reasonable doubt.’
  • ‘Suspicion rested on a handful of a details, which the Crown took as damning evidence and for which her defence said there was a perfectly innocent explanation.’
  • ‘There is damning evidence that their human rights have been routinely violated over many years and allegations that this has continued until very recently.’
  • ‘We passed our damning evidence to the police, who swooped on the companies' premises and arrested the masterminds behind the bogus operation.’
  • ‘The inquiry also heard damning evidence that CSL and other Government bodies failed to protect public safety.’
  • ‘It may turn out that there is damning evidence that we have not yet seen.’
  • ‘The doctor gave damning evidence in the trial of Mrs Symons, saying that one of her children, Jenny, had died from being shaken.’
  • ‘According to a Sunday newspaper, the damning evidence is contained in an e-mail sent by Jones.’
  • ‘Here is the damning evidence of the extent of the government's betrayal.’
  • ‘Frank discovers that the good Reverend may be involved in some shady, sinister dealings when he discovers damning evidence in a wall safe.’
  • ‘The police unearthed some fairly damning evidence against the Freemans, and the list of alleged victims only grew longer.’
  • ‘As a junior attorney on the case, I recall all too vividly the many hours spent combing through those documents for damning evidence.’
  • ‘There is the possibility, still, that further and far more damning evidence has yet to be divulged.’
  • ‘After the blow-up, David went to authorities with a box of damning evidence.’
  • ‘Not surprisingly, Edmunds's defence team did not attempt to challenge any of this damning evidence.’
  • ‘However some of the damning evidence later proved to be inconclusive.’
  • ‘Despite its denials and stonewalling, damning evidence has come to light implicating it in the deaths.’
  • ‘His lawyer uncovered some potentially damning evidence against the opposition.’
  • ‘For some, no amount of damning evidence will sway them from their allegiance.’
  • ‘Potentially damning physical or forensic evidence is scant in the Peters case.’

  Synonyms

  incriminating, condemnatory, condemning, damnatory

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1Extremely critical.
     ‘last year's damning report on the industry’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Not long after this damning report, criticism again rained on the Bank.’
     • ‘Poor financial planning was one of the many criticisms in a damning report on the council by the Audit Commission earlier this year.’
     • ‘The report was a damning indictment of declining safety standards between 2003 and May 2005.’
     • ‘The damning criticism is contained in a report which also reveals the Isle of Wight's three jails are failing.’
     • ‘Regeneration plans for the town centre have been slated in a damning report by English Heritage.’
     • ‘A school for children with learning difficulties has been severely criticised and branded ineffective by inspectors in a damning report.’
     • ‘Despite the damning report, education chiefs have welcomed the criticism which they say is balanced and helpful.’
     • ‘The damning report into e-voting confirmed all the warnings from critics.’
     • ‘These remarks, intended as praise, are in reality the most damning criticism.’
     • ‘A damning critic of the United Nations, he was also the Senate's champion of international law.’
     • ‘Hundreds of mothers with severe postnatal depression are being forced to leave their new-born babies behind to get treatment at Scotland's psychiatric units, a damning report has revealed.’
     • ‘One in 10 asthma deaths in Scotland is due to inadequate treatment and widespread ignorance of the condition among health staff, a damning new report has revealed.’
     • ‘How many more damning reports have to be written before the Government takes epilepsy seriously?’
     • ‘Both reports are a damning indictment of the criminal negligence of the military.’
     • ‘Hers is a damning indictment of Executive policy and she makes a strong case.’
     • ‘The report on the operation of the Communications Centres Service Centre is very damning.’
     • ‘Instead of a damning critique he offers redemption through the invocation of a moral imperative.’
     • ‘My third and most damning criticism of expanding numbers in further education is an economic one.’
     • ‘Listening to Burns, it is difficult to quibble with his damning assessment.’
     Synonyms

     reproachful, reproving, full of reproof

     View synonyms