blasted
/'blɑ:stid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Used as an intensifier, often expressing anger, annoyance, or emphasis: A term used before a noun to add strong negative emphasis, indicating that something is extremely bad, annoying, or unfortunate. It is considered a mild expletive or swear word.
- Damned; confounded: A synonym for "damned," used to express frustration or to intensify a description negatively.
Usage and Examples
- Adjective (as intensifier):
- I can't find my blasted keys anywhere! (Expresses frustration about losing keys.)
- He made the same blasted mistake again. (Emphasizes annoyance at a repeated error.)
- It's a blasted shame they canceled the concert. (Intensifies the feeling that the cancellation is very unfortunate.)
Advanced Usage
- "Blasted" as an attributive adjective: It is almost always used directly before the noun it modifies to provide emphatic, negative coloring.
- This blasted computer keeps freezing.
- Euphemistic variants: Words like "blessed," "darned," or "dashed" are sometimes used in a similar intensifying role but are often perceived as milder, more polite substitutions for "blasted" or "damned."
Variants and Related Words
- Blast (verb/noun): The root word. As a verb, it means to blow up or criticize severely. As a noun, it can mean an explosion or a strong gust of wind.
- They will blast the rock to clear the path. (Verb)
- A blast of cold air came through the window. (Noun)
- Blasting (present participle/gerund): The act of using explosives or creating a loud noise.
- The blasting operation will start at noon.
Synonyms
- Damned: Used with similar intensifying force.
- Confounded: Another mild expletive used for emphasis.
- Darned: A milder, often euphemistic synonym.
- Infernal: Means hellish or troublesome, used for emphasis.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- (I'll be) blasted if...: A phrase used to express strong determination or disbelief.
- I'll be blasted if I'm going to apologize for that! (I absolutely will not apologize.)
- Blasted heath: A literary phrase, famously from Shakespeare's , describing a desolate, windswept plain.
- The witches met on the blasted heath.
Adjective
- expletives used informally as intensifiers
- he's a blasted idiot
- it's a blamed shame
- a blame cold winter
- not a blessed dime
- I'll be damned (or blessed or darned or goddamned) if I'll do any such thing
- he's a damn (or goddam or goddamned) fool
- a deuced idiot
- an infernal nuisance