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

When Mr. Marx acclaims “Old Town Road” as an “incredible homegrown feat,” he praises what he damns elsewhere as the second sickness of our age.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although there was still plenty of time left for Newcastle to get back into the game, damningly, they never truly looked like equalising.

From BBC

The bandmates dressed in secondhand suits that made them look posh to some and, perhaps more damningly, refused to flatten their class identity into something easily legible.

From Los Angeles Times

If a young band can meet a grim moment like this, the Neighborhood Kids did their damnedest on Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

This is a comedy, yes, but not a satire: These are just five kids — sorry, adults — who are trying their damnedest, whether at the bank, with a hospital bill or even roasting a chicken.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• curse
• darn