Word
damnit
Informal
Definition
interj. an angry or frustrated word you say when something goes wrong or you are annoyed. It is a slightly stronger way to say 'darn it'.
interj. an exclamation used to express irritation, frustration, or anger. A non-standard spelling of the phrase 'damn it', often used to reflect colloquial pronunciation.
Examples
“Damnit, I missed the bus again.”
“He dropped his keys down the drain and muttered, 'Damnit,' under his breath.”
“The mechanic wiped the grease from his forehead and sighed, 'Damnit, this engine is in worse shape than I thought,' before reaching for a heavier wrench.”
Examples
simple
“Damnit, I missed the bus again.”
contextual
“He dropped his keys down the drain and muttered, 'Damnit,' under his breath.”
complex
“The mechanic wiped the grease from his forehead and sighed, 'Damnit, this engine is in worse shape than I thought,' before reaching for a heavier wrench.”
Usage
Used as a standalone exclamation or to introduce a sentence expressing frustration.
Pitfall
damnit to hell
damn it to hell
While 'damnit' is common in informal writing, the two-word form 'damn it' is preferred in formal contexts and for longer idiomatic phrases.
Etymology
Nonstandard contraction of damn + it
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
INTERJECTION
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/damnit