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
This is a comedy, yes, but not a satire: These are just five kids — sorry, adults — who are trying their damnedest, whether at the bank, with a hospital bill or even roasting a chicken. Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025 At the railyard, a train full of internees bound for the death camps passes, the arms of the damned reaching through the slats of the boxcars. Chris Klimek, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2024
Adverb
The car scenes are rough, authentic, and often deeply compelling — mainly because the fresh-faced Bridges is so damned charismatic. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025 While Nintendo mostly conceded the corporate tug-of-war over graphical prowess back in 2006 with the Wii, the general plateau of visual enhancements over the last two generations means that games running on Switch 2 look pretty damned good even compared to more premium devices. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Damned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damned. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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