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 of damned

Adjective

• sheer
• utter
• damn
• unconditional
• simple
• complete
• absolute
• pure
• total
• definite
• very
• outright
• perfect
• real

Adverb

• damn
• extremely
• terribly
• very
• incredibly
• too
• so
• badly
• highly
• really
• desperately
• severely
• seriously
• jolly
• far

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

Nix is not a question, his ankle be damned. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 June 2026

The man cannot help himself, visions be damned. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Adverb

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

Jeff looks at things very straightforwardly and is damned fearless, right? — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for damned

• programmed
• crammed
• dammed
• jammed
• rammed
• slammed
• diagrammed
• monogrammed
• preprogrammed
• reprogrammed