damned

1 of 2

adjective

ˈdam(d) 

damneder ˈdam-dər  ; damnedest or damndest ˈdam-dəst 

1

: damnable

this damned smog

2

: complete, utter

—often used as an intensive

a damned shame

3

: extraordinary

—used in the superlative

the damnedest contraption you ever saw

damned

2 of 2

adverb

: extremely, very

a damned good job

Synonyms

Adjective

• absolute
• all-out
• arrant
• blank
• blooming [chiefly British]
• bodacious [Southern & Midland]
• categorical
• categoric
• clean
• complete
• consummate
• crashing
• damn
• dead
• deadly
• definite
• downright
• dreadful
• fair
• flat
• flat-out
• out-and-out
• outright
• perfect
• plumb
• profound
• pure
• rank
• regular
• sheer
• simple
• stark
• stone
• straight-out
• thorough
• thoroughgoing
• total
• unadulterated
• unalloyed
• unconditional
• unmitigated
• unqualified
• utter
• very

Examples of damned in a Sentence

Adjective

only a damned fool would say such a thing

Adverb

it's a damned fine day

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There’s a sense that Downey is returning to a onetime all-star team grown fallow with youthful replacements, Moon Knight–ish non-icons, and too many damned Ant-people. —Darren Franich, Vulture, 31 July 2024

Child's play: Saved — and damned — when mature vamps Louis (Brad Pitt) and Lestat (Tom Cruise) give her a transfusion, Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) becomes part of a perverse nuclear family. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 15 July 2024

Adverb

Still, Moore is pretty damned great — this could almost be her Fly. —Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024

Calla is trying her damned best not to sound angry. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1669, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing damned

• be damned
• damned if
• I'll be damned
• the damned
• whatever one damn/damned well pleases
• (you're) damned if you do and damned if you don't