Standard Lemma guide

darned

adj · adv · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /dɑːnd/
  • rhymes with -ɑːnd
  • CMU ARPABET: D AA1 R N D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

A minced oath for damned, used to express contempt, exasperation, consternation, etc. towards someone or something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic

Examples

  • Those darned kids were round here again this morning.
  • The darned rope has got tangled up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Damned, extremely.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Qualifier: degree

Examples

  • That was darned nice of him, wasn't it?
  • He is so darned pig-headed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

simple past and past participle of darn

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

expletives used informally as intensifiers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • 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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blasted, blame, blamed, blessed, damn, damned, deuced, goddam, goddamn, goddamned, infernal

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.