Definition

1. Verb:

   • To condemn or criticize severely: To express strong disapproval of someone or something, often with moral judgment.
   • To curse or invoke evil upon: To wish harm or misfortune upon someone, often as an expression of anger.
   • To doom to eternal punishment: In religious contexts, to condemn to hell or eternal damnation.

2. Noun:

   • A curse or oath: The utterance of "damn" as a swear word.
   • Something of negligible value: Used in phrases to indicate something is worthless.

3. Adjective:

   • Used as an intensifier: Expressing anger, annoyance, or emphasis, often considered vulgar.

4. Adverb:

   • Extremely, very: Used for emphasis.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The critic damned the new play with faint praise. (The critic condemned the new play by giving it only weak, insincere compliments.)
  • He damned the faulty machinery. (He cursed the broken machinery.)
• Noun:
  • I don't give a damn about his opinion. (I don't care at all about his opinion.)
  • His promise isn't worth a damn. (His promise is completely worthless.)
• Adjective:
  • Where are my damn keys? (Where are my very annoying keys?)
  • It was a damn good movie. (It was a very good movie.)
• Adverb:
  • You know damn well what I mean. (You know very well what I mean.)
  • He ran damn fast. (He ran extremely fast.)

Advanced Usage and Idioms

• "Damn with faint praise": To criticize someone by giving them only weak or unenthusiastic praise.
  • Saying the meal was "not bad" is to damn it with faint praise.
• "I'll be damned": An expression of great surprise.
  • I'll be damned—I never thought he'd actually apologize.
• "Not give a damn": To not care at all.
  • She doesn't give a damn about the gossip.
• "Damn the consequences/torpedoes": To proceed with reckless determination, ignoring risks.
  • We're going ahead with the plan, damn the consequences.

Variants and Related Words

• Damned (adj/adv): Cursed; used as a stronger intensifier.
• Damning (adj): Strongly suggestive of guilt or condemnation.
• Damnable (adj): Deserving condemnation; odious.
• Damnatory (adj): Conveying condemnation.

Synonyms

• Verb: Condemn, censure, denounce, curse, blast.
• Noun: Curse, oath, jot, whit (as in "not a jot/whit").
• Adjective/Adverb: Bloody (UK), blasted, goddamned, infernal.

Notes on Register

The word damn is generally considered a mild swear word or profanity. Its acceptability varies by context and audience. It is often used for emotional emphasis in informal speech but can be offensive in formal or religious settings. The adjective and adverbial uses are primarily informal intensifiers.

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
2. used as expletives
   • oh, damn (or goddamn)!

Adverb

1. extremely
   • you are bloody right
   • Why are you so all-fired aggressive?

Noun

1. something of little value
   • his promise is not worth a damn
   • not worth one red cent
   • not worth shucks

Verb

1. wish harm upon; invoke evil upon
   • The bad witch cursed the child