darned 1 of 2

variants also durned
Definition of darnednext

darned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of darn
as in stitched
to close up with a series of interlacing stitches in the old days, holes in socks had to be darned by hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of darned
Adjective
Heck, as recently as 2023 Cinderella took over the whole darned Final Four, with the Miami Hurricanes, FAU and San Diego State barging in. Greg Cote updated March 23, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026 The first revelation was apparently fine, but her mom blamed those darned permissive Jesuits at Holy Cross for the second. Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 13 Dec. 2025 Within days, the magic of agricultural alchemy will turn it all into the best darned fertilizer since God invented the chicken. Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025 Let’s cruise another groomer and try to remember how to make a gosh darned turn. Frederick Dreier, Outside, 2 Dec. 2025 An allied assertion is that if AI generates foul code, tell the AI to get its act together and fix the darned stuff. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 America’s sweetheart doesn’t need any more good press from anyone—I’d bet my fortune that she could be elected Queen of Tennessee, Constitution-be-darned, if elections were held today. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Verb
Much is made of the iconography of the character of Mary Poppins — one of cinema's most famous, hyperbole be darned — but perhaps not enough is owed to how Julie Andrews, on the cusp of 30, simultaneously brought green charisma and decades of wisdom to the magical, practical nanny. Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 If only that darned Joseph Stalin hadn’t come along. Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 More holes had been worn through the holes that had been darned. Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025 The Triumph was, and still is, honest, authentic, and darned-near bulletproof. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2025 That would be a ripe spot to declare that the AI isn’t of professional quality and make darned sure to remove any wording that suggests otherwise. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darned
Adjective
  • How many people complained about this freaking sign to where a company like Nike felt compelled to take it down?
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Pair the fuzzy crewneck top and subtle kick-flare pants with chic platform sneakers or breathable, on-trend Mary Janes (this pair from Rothy’s is so freaking comfortable).
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Their light gray uppers are made with cotton for airflow in warm weather, and they’re stitched with a thin line of leather around the soles for plenty of durability.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Cut and stitched in Arusha, 10 tents—including two family suites—form a horseshoe from the main area, each filled with wooden furnishings crafted by local carpenters.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • His film Ring, directed by Hideo Nakata, centered on a cursed videotape that kills viewers seven days after watching it.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
  • In the nearly 50 years since it was released, Faces of Death has become something of a cursed object, the kind of movie that gets traded around on old VHS tapes and spoken about in hushed tones on playgrounds and in video stores.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The nerves can be sutured back together to minimize pain, Bank said, but most breast surgeons haven’t been trained to do this.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The nerves can be sutured back together to minimize pain, Bank said, but most breast surgeons haven’t been trained to do this.
    Brett Kelman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Most of all, Gates proclaimed time and time again just how darn special Huntington Beach is.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
  • And the cruel reality is that Sieler is on the wrong side of 30 and the Dolphins are undergoing a rebuild, which means Sieler needs to have a darn good season to extend his Miami career.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Colorado Street was temporarily closed as crews repaired lines.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Now, some things are always going to be worth tossing—anything broken that can't be repaired, for example—but for other items, the line between keep or toss isn't so clear cut.
    Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Their banter is empty because outside the season’s premiere, The Boys hasn’t actually shown us this awful America, and how everyone within it, including celebrities, are at risk.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
  • This state has had some awful governors, but none in modern times ever attempted anything so repugnant as exposing more children to deadly diseases, as DeSantis has.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The delay seemed to Silva like one more indignity in a terrible series of events that began with her husband’s death in 2024.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The logic here is peak modern NBA, and the league wants to make being slightly below average more rewarding than being truly terrible.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Darned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darned. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on darned

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster