damnation
C1Formal, Literary, Religious, occasionally Informal/Emphatic
Definition
Meaning
The action or state of being condemned by God to eternal punishment in hell.
A strong expression of condemnation, anger, or frustration; ruin or disaster.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a religious/theological concept, but also used figuratively for extreme condemnation or as an expletive interjection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Usage as an interjection (e.g., 'Damnation!') is slightly more archaic/formal in British English.
Connotations
Equally strong religious connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. Possibly slightly higher in US English in political/figurative contexts (e.g., 'damnation by faint praise').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the damnation of [person/entity]damnation awaits [person/entity]cry damnation on/upon [person/entity]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “damnation by faint praise”
- “on the road to damnation”
- “cry damnation”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, philosophy, and literary analysis.
Everyday
Rare, except as a strong, old-fashioned expletive ('Damnation!').
Technical
Specific theological term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was damned for his heresies.
- The play was damned by the critics.
American English
- They damned the policy as a failure.
- She felt damned by her own conscience.
adverb
British English
- The plan was damned difficult to execute.
- He ran damned fast.
American English
- That's a damned good idea.
- It's damned cold outside.
adjective
British English
- He gave a damning assessment of the report.
- The damning evidence was conclusive.
American English
- The committee issued a damning verdict.
- It was a damning indictment of the system.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the story, the villain faces damnation for his crimes.
- 'Damnation!' he shouted when he dropped his phone.
- The preacher spoke passionately about the dangers of eternal damnation.
- The minister's sermon focused on salvation versus damnation.
- His actions led to the moral damnation of his entire family.
- The critic's faint praise was a subtle form of damnation.
- Theological debates often centre on the criteria for divine damnation.
- The politician's career suffered a final damnation after the scandal was revealed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DAMNation - think of the word 'damn' at its core, intensified into a state or condition (-ation).
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL FAILURE IS A FALL INTO AN ABYSS / DIVINE JUSTICE IS A FINAL JUDGMENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'проклятие' (more 'curse'). 'Damnation' is the state/result of being condemned, not the act of cursing. Closer to 'осуждение (на вечные муки)' or 'гибель души'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'curse'. Confusing 'damnation' (noun) with 'damn' (verb/interjection). Overusing in non-religious contexts.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for the word 'damnation'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be used as a strong, old-fashioned expletive interjection ('Damnation!'), which is considered mild profanity. As a noun referring to eternal punishment, it is not a swear word.
'Condemnation' is a general term for strong disapproval. 'Damnation' is a specific type of condemnation, usually divine and resulting in eternal punishment, making it much stronger and more theological.
Yes, figuratively. For example, 'The damning report led to his professional damnation' means it ruined his career. The idiom 'damnation by faint praise' is also secular.
The primary verb is 'to damn'. The adjective 'damning' (as in 'damning evidence') and the adverb 'damn'/'damned' (as an intensifier) are also related.