damned

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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

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adverb

: extremely, very

a damned good job

damned

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past tense and past participle of damn entry 1

damnedest

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noun

damned·​est ˈdam-dəst 

variants or damndest

: utmost, best

—used chiefly in the phrase do one's damnedest

doing my damnedest to win

damnedest

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superlative of damned entry 1

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

Jeff Nichols is not only one of cinema’s foremost chroniclers of the American South, but is doing his damnedest to revitalize the film scene in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

Grammys be damned—BTS released one of the best albums of the year in Arirang, their 10th studio album and first since the seven members completed their mandatory military enlistment in their native South Korea. — Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026

Adverb

The Rolling Stones, down to two original members, have released their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, and most of it is pretty damned good. — David Harris, SPIN, 6 July 2026

But Cleveland State was, in fact, a damned good basketball team, as were most of the double-digit seed winners in NCAA Tournament history. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026

Noun

In the quarter millennium since, scholars and activists have in different ways done their damnedest to wipe the smirk off his face. — Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025

When they’re written in a screenplay, the writer will try their damnedest to give you a rough idea. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1669, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1827, 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