damn

[ dam ]

verb (used with object)

1. to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal.
2. to condemn as a failure:

   to damn a play.

   Synonyms: blast, disparage, denounce, censure, berate

3. to bring condemnation upon; ruin.
4. to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell.
5. to swear at or curse, using the word “damn”:

   Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

verb (used without object)

1. to use the word “damn”; swear.

interjection

1. (used as an expletive to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.)

noun

1. the utterance of “damn” in swearing or for emphasis.
2. something of negligible value:

   not worth a damn.

adjective

1. damned ( defs 2, 3 ).

adverb

1. damned.

damn

/ dæm /

interjection

1. slang.
   an exclamation of annoyance (often in exclamatory phrases such as damn it! damn you! etc)
2. informal.
   an exclamation of surprise or pleasure (esp in the exclamatory phrase damn me! )

adjective

1. slang.
   prenominal deserving damnation; detestable

adverb

1. slang.
   (intensifier)

   damn fool

   a damn good pianist

adverb

1. damn all slang.
   absolutely nothing

verb

1. to condemn as bad, worthless, etc
2. to curse
3. to condemn to eternal damnation
4. often passive to doom to ruin; cause to fail

   the venture was damned from the start

5. also intr to prove (someone) guilty

   damning evidence

6. to swear (at) using the word damn
7. as near as damn it informal.
   as near as possible; very near
8. damn with faint praise
   to praise so unenthusiastically that the effect is condemnation

noun

1. slang.
   something of negligible value; jot (esp in the phrase not worth a damn )
2. not give a damn informal.
   to be unconcerned; not care

Other Words From

• damn·er noun
• pre·damn verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of damn¹

1250–1300; Middle English dam ( p ) nen < Old French dam ( p ) ner < Latin damnāre to condemn, derivative of damnum damage, fine, harm

Word History and Origins

Origin of damn¹

C13: from Old French dampner, from Latin damnāre to injure, condemn, from damnum loss, injury, penalty

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. damn well, Informal. damned ( def 7 ).
2. damn with faint praise, to praise so moderately as, in effect, to condemn:

   The critic damned the opera with faint praise when he termed the production adequate.

3. give a damn, Informal. to care; be concerned; consider as important: Also give a darn.

   You shouldn't give a damn about their opinions.

More idioms and phrases containing damn

• do one's damnedest
• give a damn
• not worth a dime (tinker's damn)

Related Words

• curse
• darn