damned

[ damd ]

adjective

, superlative damned·est, damnd·est.

1. condemned or doomed, especially to eternal punishment:

   the wailing of damned souls.

2. detestable; loathsome:

   Get that damned dog out of here!

3. complete; absolute; utter:

   a damned nuisance; a damned fool.

4. Informal. extraordinary; amazing:

   It was the damnedest thing I'd ever seen.

noun

1. the damned, those condemned to suffer eternal punishment.

adverb

1. extremely; very; absolutely:

   a damned good singer; too damned lazy.

damned

/ dæmd /

adjective

1. 1. condemned to hell
   2. ( as noun )

      the damned

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   a damned good try

   I should damned well think so!

   a damned liar

2. used to indicate amazement, disavowal, or refusal (in such phrases as I'll be damned and damned if I care )

Word History and Origins

Origin of damned¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, damned is from the Middle English word dam(p)ned. See damn, -ed ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. damned well, Informal. certainly or without doubt; emphatically: Also damn well.

   You damned well better say you're sorry!

Example Sentences

Conformity with the system, for Bronson, is a form of spiritual death that leaves you “unsaved, unforgiven, damned.”

From Washington Post

It was a riot, organized and planned in advance, and aided by people in charge of the government so they could stay in power — pesky electoral outcomes be damned.

From FiveThirtyEight

Of course, there will always be those marketers whose first response in any crisis is to steer ads clear of news — media owners be damned.

From Digiday

He is determined to map whole brains, exorbitant exabyte-scale storage be damned.

From Nautilus

Corporations maximize profits for shareholders—workers, communities, and the environment be damned.

From Fortune

They were going to tell their story, consequences be damned.

From The Daily Beast

Lady Edith is so sad that her sadness nearly set the whole damned house on fire.

From The Daily Beast

But he had already begun to start speaking his truth, consequences be damned.

From The Daily Beast

Who has the courage to do the right thing—money from special interest groups be damned?

From The Daily Beast

But the government is planning to throw her in jail—no court date, son be damned.

From The Daily Beast

I thought at the moment it was some of his damned impertinence, but concluded that he had something on his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

That Hicks—the damned —— —— —— he come t' Baker's as they hooked up t' leave the Spring.

From Project Gutenberg

We were in a so-called trench on the edge of a wood—a damned rotten place to be, and we got hell.

From Project Gutenberg

Charles Martel, on the contrary, was damned—body and soul—for having rewarded his captains by giving them abbeys.

From Project Gutenberg

That's why he broke the contract with the Amalgamated, and hired the damned Pinkertons two months before, when all was peace.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• darned
• lousy