damn

American  

[dam] / dæm /

verb (used with object)

1. to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal.

2. to condemn as a failure.

   to damn a play.

   Synonyms:

   blast, disparage, denounce, censure, berate

3. to bring condemnation upon; ruin.

4. to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell.

5. to swear at or curse, using the word “damn”.

   Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

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verb (used without object)

1. to use the word “damn”; swear.

interjection

1. (used as an expletive to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.)

noun

1. the utterance of “damn” in swearing or for emphasis.

2. something of negligible value.

   not worth a damn.

adjective

1. damned.

adverb

1. damned.

idioms

1. give a damn, to care; be concerned; consider as important: Also give a darn.

   You shouldn't give a damn about their opinions.

2. damn with faint praise, to praise so moderately as, in effect, to condemn.

   The critic damned the opera with faint praise when he termed the production adequate.

3. damn well, damned.

damn British  

/ dæm /

interjection

1. slang an exclamation of annoyance (often in exclamatory phrases such as damn it! damn you! etc)

2. informal an exclamation of surprise or pleasure (esp in the exclamatory phrase damn me! )

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adjective

1. slang (prenominal) deserving damnation; detestable

adverb

1. slang (intensifier)

   damn fool

   a damn good pianist

adverb

1. slang absolutely nothing

verb

1. to condemn as bad, worthless, etc

2. to curse

3. to condemn to eternal damnation

4. (often passive) to doom to ruin; cause to fail

   the venture was damned from the start

5. (also intr) to prove (someone) guilty

   damning evidence

6. to swear (at) using the word damn

7. informal as near as possible; very near

8. to praise so unenthusiastically that the effect is condemnation

noun

1. slang something of negligible value; jot (esp in the phrase not worth a damn )

2. informal to be unconcerned; not care

damn More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing damn

• do one's damnedest
• give a damn
• not worth a dime (tinker's damn)

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Other Word Forms

• damner noun
• predamn verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of damn

1250–1300; Middle English dam ( p ) nen < Old French dam ( p ) ner < Latin damnāre to condemn, derivative of damnum damage, fine, harm

Example Sentences

And going to one dinner at Epstein’s was just so damn efficient.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

“Hormuz is not quite a total ghost-town halt yet, but it’s damn near lights out,” said Raj.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

“Read between the lines. People don’t come out of retirement for the love of the game at damn near 50. That’s not how boxing works,” Smith wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

Duke replies with words to the effect that the world doesn't give a damn about him, so he doesn't care about the world either.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

“Mm-hmm. I’ve gotta admit it’s catchy. It’s pretty damn brilliant, too, Ms. Brilliant Bri.”

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• curse
• darn