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darnedest

American

[dahrn-dist] / ˈdɑrn dɪst /

Or darndest

noun

Informal.

(used euphemistically) damnedest.

darnedest British

/ ˈdɑːndɪst /

noun

a euphemistic word for damnedest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of darnedest

First recorded in 1830–35; darned ¹ ( def. ) + -est ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Our approach now, is to do our darnedest to keep bluetongue out of Wales," he said.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2025

The kids do say the darnedest things, but they are also vessels of anxiety and avatars of vulnerability.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2022

I would do my darnedest to crunch atop as many crisp, multicolored leaves as possible.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2022

An Icelandic icon, men dancing in drag and puppets saying the darnedest things lead our shortlist of cultural offerings this weekend.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2022

His pleasantly youthful face crinkled in a grin, “I’ve got the darnedest job of any of us, so I’m getting out of here and to work.”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023