damnedest
C2Informal. Often used with mild profanity/forcefulness.
Definition
Meaning
The most extreme or remarkable effort or example; the best or most extreme one can do.
Refers to a superlative effort, attempt, or instance, often in the idiom "try/do one's damnedest" (to do everything possible), or as a noun meaning "the most surprising/outrageous thing".
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly found in the fixed phrase "do/try one's damnedest". As a noun, it often expresses surprise or exasperation at something extreme or unexpected (e.g., "It's the damnedest thing!").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are largely identical. "Damnedest" is slightly more frequent in American English but is well-established in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries the same mild profane force in both, making it informal. Not considered highly offensive in modern casual use.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both, but the idiom "do/try one's damnedest" is the standard carrier of the word.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] do/try one's damnedest to [infinitive]It's the damnedest [noun] (I've ever seen/heard).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “do/try one's damnedest”
- “the damnedest thing”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Very rare. Would be inappropriate in formal reports but might occur in casual speech among colleagues.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
The primary context. Used in informal conversation to express maximum effort or surprise.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- It's the damnedest luck, losing your keys again.
- He told the damnedest story about meeting the Queen.
American English
- That's the damnedest idea I've ever heard.
- We had the damnedest time finding the restaurant.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She did her damnedest to finish the project on time.
- It was the damnedest thing – my phone just started ringing in the empty room.
- Despite doing his damnedest to convince the board, the proposal was rejected.
- The detective had seen the damnedest things in his career, but this case was unique.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DAMN' + '-est' (superlative). It's the 'most damn' effort you can give, or the 'most damn' surprising thing.
Conceptual Metaphor
EFFORT IS A SUPREME FORCE (do one's damnedest). SURPRISE IS AN EXTREME ENTITY (the damnedest thing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian "проклятый" (accursed). The core meaning is about extremity, not cursing. "Do one's damnedest" ≈ "изо всех сил", "сделать всё возможное", not связанный с проклятием.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a regular adjective (e.g., 'a damnedest day' is wrong). Forgetting the possessive in the idiom (e.g., 'do the damnedest' is wrong).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'damnedest' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is derived from 'damn', which is considered mild profanity. 'Damnedest' itself is informal and carries that same mild force, but is not generally considered highly offensive in casual conversation among adults.
No. It is almost exclusively used in the fixed phrases 'do/try one's damnedest' or as a noun in constructions like 'the damnedest thing'. You cannot say 'a damnedest car'.
In 'do one's damnedest', it functions as a noun (object of the possessive). In 'the damnedest thing', it functions as an adjective. It has no standard verb or adverb use.
Phrases like 'do one's utmost', 'make every effort', 'try one's hardest', or 'exert maximum effort' are more formal equivalents.