damned; damning
ˈda-miŋ 
1
: to condemn to a punishment or fate
especially
: to condemn to hell
2
a
: to condemn vigorously and often irascibly for some real or fancied fault or defect
damned the storm for their delay
b
: to condemn as a failure by public criticism
3
: to bring ruin on
4
: to swear at : curse
—often used to express annoyance, disgust, or surprise
damn him, he should have been careful
I'll be damned
1
: the utterance of the word damn as a curse
2
: a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
don't give a damn
damn
3 of 3adjective or adverb
: damned
a damn nuisance
ran damn fast
Examples of damn in a Sentence
Verb
But it is functional talk for the purpose of conveying information, not, as often in the case of Waugh, for entertaining his audience, humdrum veracity be damned.
—
Robert Murray Davis, Commonweal, 5 June 2009
Congress demanded an immediate investigation and over the next year held dramatic hearings, launched a variety of inquests, and produced several pounds of reports that condemned FEMA. One report damned the agency as a dumping ground for political appointees …
—Christopher Cooper & Robert Block, Disaster, 2006
No American war has been more roundly damned than the Mexican. Within months after its outbreak Whigs and abolitionists accused Polk of plotting the ambush on the Rio Grande and misrepresenting the facts in order to stampede the nation into a war of conquest …
—Walter A. McDougall, Promised Land, Crusader State, 1997
He damned them for their stupidity.
damned the car for once again breaking down
Noun
I don't want to hear about your problems—I just don't give a damn.
Adjective or adverb
told her she'd never get married because she was too damn picky
that dilapidated house is a damn eyesore and should be torn down
Robert Murray Davis, Commonweal, 5 June 2009
Congress demanded an immediate investigation and over the next year held dramatic hearings, launched a variety of inquests, and produced several pounds of reports that condemned FEMA. One report damned the agency as a dumping ground for political appointees …
—Christopher Cooper & Robert Block, Disaster, 2006
No American war has been more roundly damned than the Mexican. Within months after its outbreak Whigs and abolitionists accused Polk of plotting the ambush on the Rio Grande and misrepresenting the facts in order to stampede the nation into a war of conquest …
—Walter A. McDougall, Promised Land, Crusader State, 1997
He damned them for their stupidity.
damned the car for once again breaking down
Noun
I don't want to hear about your problems—I just don't give a damn.
Adjective or adverb
told her she'd never get married because she was too damn picky
that dilapidated house is a damn eyesore and should be torn down
Recent Examples on the Web
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Former Massachusetts state trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, delivered damning testimony during Karen Read's first criminal trial over the murder of O'Keefe, her boyfriend at the time, including derogatory and sexist text messages Proctor sent friends about Read.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2025
And as far as luxurious treats go, well, the afternoon high tea there is not to be missed, and the theme changing monthly offers the strongest argument yet to treat oneself ad infinitum without giving a tinker’s damn about the current economy.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2025
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Every algorithm is just one damn state after another.
—Anil Seth, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damn
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Without either damning or lauding him, the script drops wry hints that POTUS’ relaxed charm is as much a part of the package as his experience and authority.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Former Massachusetts state trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, delivered damning testimony during Karen Read's first criminal trial over the murder of O'Keefe, her boyfriend at the time, including derogatory and sexist text messages Proctor sent friends about Read.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
There’s a lot that is freeing about getting older, including not giving as much of a damn.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2025
And as far as luxurious treats go, well, the afternoon high tea there is not to be missed, and the theme changing monthly offers the strongest argument yet to treat oneself ad infinitum without giving a tinker’s damn about the current economy.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2025
Adjective or adverb
Respect to Travis for studying the damn playbook.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Every algorithm is just one damn state after another.
—Anil Seth, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damn
Cite this Entry
“Damn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damn. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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