# goddamn

/ˈɡɑdˌdæm/ (US) · /ɡˈɒdæm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/goddamn
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. emphasizing anger

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Vulgar

used to show you are very annoyed or angry about something.

For teachers: used as an attributive intensifier to express irritation, contempt, or anger toward the noun it modifies.

- I can't find my goddamn keys anywhere and I'm already late.
- He spent the entire afternoon trying to fix that goddamn leaky faucet, only to realize he didn't have the right tools for the job.

Usage: Always placed before the noun it modifies; it is non-gradable.

### 2. shout of anger

interjection · CEFR C1 · Informal · Vulgar

a rude word you shout when you are surprised, angry, or frustrated.

For teachers: an expletive used to vent sudden emotion, typically frustration or shock.

- Goddamn, that hurt my toe.
- Goddamn, I never expected the project to fail so spectacularly after all the overtime we put in.

Teaching tip: This is considered offensive by many religious people; learners should use it with extreme caution in social settings.

### 3. the smallest amount

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Vulgar

used in negative sentences to mean you do not care at all.

For teachers: used in the negative to indicate a total lack of concern or value.

- I don't give a goddamn what they think of my new haircut.
- The CEO made it clear that he didn't give a goddamn about the staff's complaints as long as the quarterly profits remained high.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the phrase 'not give a goddamn'.

## Examples

- I can't find my goddamn keys anywhere.
- He spent the whole afternoon trying to fix that goddamn lawnmower before finally giving up in frustration.
- The protagonist's internal monologue is peppered with goddamn adjectives, reflecting a deep-seated resentment toward the bureaucratic hurdles preventing his return home.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.