Phrase guide

do more harm than good

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make a situation worse, usually while trying to make it better.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: aiheuttaa enemmän vahinkoa kuin hyvää — to make a situation worse, usually while trying to make it better
  • Hungarian: többet árt, mint használ — to make a situation worse, usually while trying to make it better
  • Polish: wyrządzać więcej szkody niż pożytku — to make a situation worse, usually while trying to make it better
  • Polish: wyrządzić więcej szkody niż pożytku — to make a situation worse, usually while trying to make it better
  • Swedish: göra mer skada än nytta — to make a situation worse, usually while trying to make it better
  • Swedish: stjälpa mer än hjälpa — to make a situation worse, usually while trying to make it better