Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Condemned to eternal punishment in Hell: Used to describe someone or something that is believed to be destined for hell or eternal damnation.
   • Used as an intensifier to express anger, annoyance, or emphasis: A swear word used informally to make a statement stronger, often expressing strong negative feelings.

2. Adverb:

   • Used for emphasis: An intensifier meaning "extremely" or "very," often conveying frustration or strong feeling.

3. Noun:

   • People condemned to hell: Refers collectively to souls who are believed to be suffering eternal punishment in hell.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The preacher spoke of the fate of the damned souls. (Describing those condemned.)
  • That's a damned nuisance! (Used as an intensifier to express annoyance.)
  • He's a damned fool for trying that. (Used as an intensifier for emphasis.)

• Adverb:

  • It's damned cold outside today. (Meaning "extremely cold.")
  • She ran damned fast to catch the bus. (Meaning "very fast.")

• Noun:

  • In the painting, the artist depicted the torment of the damned. (Referring to the group of condemned souls.)

Advanced Usage

• "I'll be damned (if...)": An exclamation of strong surprise or disbelief, often used to introduce a statement the speaker finds hard to believe or is determined not to do.

  • Well, I'll be damned! He actually showed up on time.
  • I'll be damned if I'm going to apologize for that!

• "The damned": Used as a collective noun, often in religious or literary contexts.

  • The sermon focused on salvation for the righteous and punishment for the damned.

Variants and Related Words

• Damn (verb): To condemn, especially to hell; to criticize severely.
  • The critic damned the play with faint praise.
• Damn (interjection): An exclamation of anger, frustration, or surprise.
  • Damn! I forgot my keys again.
• Damning (adjective): Strongly suggesting guilt or error; conclusive.
  • The report contained damning evidence against the official.

Synonyms

• Adjective (condemned): Doomed, cursed, accursed.
• Adjective/Adverb (intensifier): Blasted, cursed, darned, goddamned, infernal, deuced (all informal).

Related Phrases

• Not give a damn: To not care at all.
  • He doesn't give a damn about what people think.
• Damn well: Used for strong emphasis.
  • You damn well better be telling the truth.
• Damn with faint praise: To praise so weakly that it effectively expresses disapproval.
  • Saying the meal was 'edible' damned it with faint praise.

Related Idioms

• A damn sight (better/worse, etc.): A great deal (better/worse).
  • This new software is a damn sight easier to use.
• (As) near as damn it: Very nearly; almost exactly.
  • It'll cost a hundred pounds, as near as damn it.

Adjective

1. in danger of the eternal punishment of Hell
   • poor damned souls
2. 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

Adverb

1. in a damnable manner
   • kindly Arthur--so damnably , politely , endlessly persistent!

Noun

1. people who are condemned to eternal punishment
   • he felt he had visited the realm of the damned