damned

[ damd ]

adjective

, superlative damned·est, damnd·est.

1. condemned or doomed, especially to eternal punishment:

   the wailing of damned souls.

2. detestable; loathsome:

   Get that damned dog out of here!

3. complete; absolute; utter:

   a damned nuisance; a damned fool.

4. Informal. extraordinary; amazing:

   It was the damnedest thing I'd ever seen.

noun

1. the damned, those condemned to suffer eternal punishment.

adverb

1. extremely; very; absolutely:

   a damned good singer; too damned lazy.

damned

/ dæmd /

adjective

1. 1. condemned to hell
   2. ( as noun )

      the damned

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   I should damned well think so!

   a damned liar

   a damned good try

2. used to indicate amazement, disavowal, or refusal (in such phrases as I'll be damned and damned if I care )

Word History and Origins

Origin of damned¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, damned is from the Middle English word dam(p)ned. See damn, -ed ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. damned well, Informal. certainly or without doubt; emphatically: Also damn well.

   You damned well better say you're sorry!

Example Sentences

Then again, as you noted, “The Eras Tour” is doing its damnedest to give movie theaters a badly needed shot of adrenaline.

From Los Angeles Times

I do my damnedest to play the part.

From Los Angeles Times

"It can't achieve strategic surprise but it will try its damnedest to achieve operational and tactical surprise. That will involve concealment, camouflage, deception, misinformation which they used quite successfully last autumn."

From Reuters

But the bastions of white power in this country are doing their damnedest to eradicate it.

From Washington Post

Mainstream parties the world over are indeed full of corrupt politicians who often do their damnedest to game the system.

From Salon

Related Words

• darned
• lousy