darn 1 of 3

Definition of darnnext

darn

2 of 3

verb

as in to stitch
to close up with a series of interlacing stitches in the old days, holes in socks had to be darned by hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

darn

3 of 3

adjective

variants also durn

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of darn
Verb
Despite its flaws, unpopularity and uncertain prospects, the US economy is pretty darned strong and growing fast. David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026 More holes had been worn through the holes that had been darned. Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Just get the darn curler and invoke Hathor! Fiona Landers, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026 Helles Real won this whole darn thing in 2023, so that 2 seed is well-earned. Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for darn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darn
Noun
  • Volcanoes, like stars and tides and changing seasons, don’t give a damn.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
  • What is emerging instead is a stewardship model that treats vital ecosystems, like coral reefs, as dynamic systems requiring maintenance, repair, and adaptation, much like roads, damns, and power grids.
    Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And who wouldn’t want to see their baby’s name stitched on a blanket with an adorable giraffe, lion, hippo, or unicorn?
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
  • McClanahan will honor his father, James, who passed away in January, with his JWM initials stitched into his glove.
    Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • To have to come and be in this particular bracket every freaking year is unacceptable.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Pair the fuzzy crewneck top and subtle kick-flare pants with chic platform sneakers or breathable, on-trend Mary Janes (this pair from Rothy’s is so freaking comfortable).
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Aziza Scott is a hoot as Anna’s pregnant best friend/real-talk Greek chorus of sorts, and Coiro herself doles out zingers as a random tourist on a bus.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
  • And Donnie was so into it and so prepared, and just a hoot.
    Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The nerves can be sutured back together to minimize pain, Bank said, but most breast surgeons haven’t been trained to do this.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The company says the system would be able to perform hemorrhage control, wound repair, chest decompression, shrapnel extraction, and field suturing, stabilizing the patient until evacuation can be carried out.
    Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In the nearly 50 years since it was released, Faces of Death has become something of a cursed object, the kind of movie that gets traded around on old VHS tapes and spoken about in hushed tones on playgrounds and in video stores.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Daniel Bernhardt is Deathstalker, a legendary swordsman stuck with a cursed amulet who befriends swamp monsters and teams with a mini wizard (voiced by Patton Oswalt) to stop a dark magic from ruling the land.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • It's formulated with the label's game-changing Alpha Keratin 60KU, which nourishes the scalp, repairs damage, and reinforces hair strength.
    Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The project will improve safety and repair roads and bridges.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Eventually, people could not resist returning to their lives, to routines more comfortable than standing in the streets with the sun glaring in your eyes, squinting up to check the position of snipers on a roof, or working with cramping fingers sewing your tenth mask of the night.
    Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Rodriguez Brito had sewn a tracking device into the victim’s clothing, prosecutors said.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Darn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darn. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on darn

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster