damn

1 of 3

verb

damned; damning ˈda-miŋ How to pronounce damn (audio)
Synonyms of damnnext

transitive verb

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

damn

2 of 3

noun

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 3

adjective or adverb

: damned
a damn nuisance
ran damn fast
see also:

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
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.
Verb
As noted in Le Figaro, the damning May 13 report is based on over 20 hearings and roundtables with some 100 insiders, conducted over the past five months. Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026 In a third quarter that featured the beginning of a 21-5 Thunder run, in one damning sequence James missed consecutive layups and was passive on a pass from Reaves that became a turnover, which turned into another Oklahoma City basket. Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Noun
In comedy, no one gives a damn. Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026 Drop some of the races on tracks no one gives a damn about and showcase the old school tracks, Bristol, Talladega and Daytona get three races a season. Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Adjective or adverb
My mother didn’t raise me on no damn cereal. Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 13 May 2026 Whereas a dock can usually hold a handful of sea lions, Chonkers is big enough to nearly take up the whole damn thing itself. John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damn

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective or adverb

Middle English dampnen, from Anglo-French dampner, from Latin damnare, from damnum damage, loss, fine

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective Or Adverb

circa 1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of damn was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Damn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damn. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

damn

1 of 2 verb
1
: to condemn to a punishment or fate
especially : to condemn to hell
2
: to condemn as bad or as a failure
3
: to swear at : curse

damn

2 of 2 noun
1
: the saying of the word damn as a curse
2
: the least bit
not worth a damn
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