Showing results for "damnedest"

• superlative of damned.

damnedest

American  

[dam-dist] / ˈdæm dɪst /

noun

1. best; utmost.

   They did their damnedest to finish on time.

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adjective

1. most amazing or extraordinary.

   It was the damnedest coincidence, running into her in Paris after all these years of avoiding each other in Atlanta.

damnedest British  

/ ˈdæmdɪst /

noun

1. informal utmost; best (esp in the phrases do or try one's damnedest )

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Etymology

Origin of damnedest

First recorded in 1820–30; damned + -est ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

damnedest

"It can't achieve strategic surprise but it will try its damnedest to achieve operational and tactical surprise. That will involve concealment, camouflage, deception, misinformation which they used quite successfully last autumn."

From Reuters ● Jun. 14, 2023

To that moment, he had done his damnedest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2022

She didn’t — but the trial made her a tabloid sensation as she did her damnedest to spread covid-19 all over Manhattan.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 7, 2022

The first couple tried their damnedest to make life better for all, especially those mired in poverty and racial discrimination.

From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2021

“All right,” I said, trying my damnedest to sound like them.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely