Definition

1. 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

1. 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