'neuron-damaging' is a compound of 'neuron' and 'damage'. 'neuron' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'νεῦρον' (neûron), where it meant 'nerve'. 'damage' originates from Old French 'damager', ultimately from Late Latin 'damnum', meaning 'loss' or 'harm'.

'neuron' entered English via New Latin as 'neuron' from Greek 'νεῦρον', while 'damage' entered Middle English from Old French 'damager'; the adjective 'damaging' is formed from 'damage' + -ing, and the hyphenated compound 'neuron-damaging' is a modern formation combining the two elements to describe harm specifically to neurons.

Initially, 'neuron' simply referred to a 'nerve' and 'damage' referred broadly to 'harm' or 'loss'; combined in modern usage they specifically describe something that 'harms nerve cells' or 'is harmful to neural tissue'.