damned

1 of 2

adjective

damneder ˈdam-dər How to pronounce damned (audio) ; damnedest or damndest ˈdam-dəst How to pronounce damned (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The Gothic fortress on West 23rd Street was once home to many of the twentieth century’s beautiful and damned—Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, and Sid Vicious among them. Ian Malone, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025 The funeral procession that climaxes Emilia Pérez is the damnedest, craziest thing since Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic minions draped kente cloth stoles over their shoulders and kneeled to canonize George Floyd at the Capitol. Armond White, National Review, 29 Jan. 2025
Adverb
The combo of that large, efficient head; the dampening factor of the wood handle; and a nice texture at the base of the grip just felt so damned good, strike after strike. Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 20 Nov. 2024 Still, Moore is pretty damned great — this could almost be her Fly. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for damned 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1669, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of damned was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near damned

Cite this Entry

“Damned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damned. Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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