Standard Lemma guide

darnedest

adj · noun · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdɑːndɪst/
  • General-American: /ˈdɑɹnˌdɪst/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D AA1 R N D EH0 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: D AA1 R N EH0 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Damnedest; most amazing, consternating, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic, not-comparable

Examples

  • The darnedest thing happened to me today – I saw a man who I know died ten years ago.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Damnedest; one's best effort.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, uncountable

Examples

  • I did my darnedest to stay awake.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English darned Proto-Indo-European *-yōs Proto-Indo-European *-tHós Proto-Indo-European *-istHos Proto-Germanic *-istaz Proto-West Germanic *-ist Old English -est Middle English -est English -est English darnedest From darned + -est.