adjective / interjection / adverb
darn
A mild substitute for a swear word.
Darn, I can't find my keys anywhere today.
Etymology
Darn alters damn to make the oath milder. It preserves the emphatic or exclamatory function while softening the form of the stronger word.
More examples
- This darn drawer keeps getting stuck.
- You play the piano pretty darn well.
- That's a darned good idea.
Forms
darn · darned
Similar words
- dang
- Another mild substitute, often with a more folksy tone.
- damn
- A stronger swear word that can cause more offense.