Skip to main content
darn

darn

62 6.7
A word people say when they feel annoyed or surprised
  • interjection
  • /dɑrn/
  • Informal
translation icon : vaya
  • His assistant was supposed to give me... the address and phone number, but, darn it, she never did.
  • Oh, darn
  • gosh darn
  • say "darn"

So we're going to run in there, hit the salad bar, hoard, and then, darn it, I got to wait for a whole nother light.

Examples

Synonyms

damn
vsdarn
  • NSFW
6.7

Said to show anger, surprise or annoyance

is a softer, milder exclamation avoiding vulgar or strong language
goddamn
vsdarn
  • Offensive
659 9.2

Shows strong anger, annoyance, or surprise in rude informal speech

is a softer, milder exclamation appropriate for polite conversation
heck
vsdarn
  • Informal
422 7.5

A small amount of care or worry about something

is the familiar mild exclamation used generally for annoyance and surprise
what the hell
vsdarn
  • NSFW
347 8.9

An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something

is a milder nonvulgar exclamation used for small annoyances or surprise
ugh
vsdarn
  • Informal
282 7.9

A short sound people make to show disgust or annoyance

is mainly a mild exclamation for annoyance or surprise, not disgust
goddamned
vsdarn
  • Offensive
121 9.9

Shows strong anger or annoyance in a rude way

is milder and suitable in polite speech instead of offensive language
what the heck
vsdarn
  • Informal
90 8.9

A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance

is used more for annoyance and frustration as well as occasional surprise
for Christ's sake
vsdarn
  • Offensive
65 9.7

A strong expression showing anger, surprise, or urgency

is milder and nonreligious, used for everyday small annoyances
goddammit
vsdarn
  • Offensive
50 9.9

A rude strong swear word people say when angry or frustrated

is a milder, nonprofane exclamation for ordinary annoyance or surprise
for fuck's sake
vsdarn
  • Offensive
33 9.9

A very rude phrase people say to show strong anger or annoyance

is a gentle mild exclamation suitable for polite contexts
darned
vsdarn
  • Informal
27 7.4

An informal word that makes a feeling stronger, for example very tired

is a general mild exclamation mainly for annoyance, frustration, or surprise
holy shit
vsdarn
  • Offensive
26 9.9

A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or shocked

is a mild polite exclamation used for small surprises or annoyances
darn it
vsdarn
  • Informal
17 8.4

A short phrase people say when they feel frustrated or disappointed

is used more broadly for mild surprise as well as annoyance
damnit
vsdarn
  • NSFW
15 8.4

A short angry cry people say when they feel annoyed or frustrated

is a milder, socially safer exclamation for everyday small annoyances
fucking hell
vsdarn
  • Offensive
14 9.9

A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked

is a mild, nonvulgar exclamation for small annoyances or surprise
goddam
vsdarn
  • Offensive
9 9.9

Adds strong anger or surprise to what you say

is a gentle mild exclamation, not used to intensify angrily or profanely
drat
vsdarn
  • Informal
7 9.5

A short spoken word people use to show mild annoyance or disappointment

is used mainly for general annoyance, surprise, or frustration
oooh
vsdarn
  • Informal
7 9.1

A short sound people make when they feel a quick pain

is a short mild exclamation mainly for annoyance or surprise without pain
urgh
vsdarn
  • UK
7 9.3

A sound people make to show disgust or annoyance

is a mild verbal exclamation for annoyance or surprise, not strong disgust
doggone
vsdarn
  • Informal
4 9.4

A short exclamation that shows annoyance or disappointment

is the standard mild exclamation used across many informal contexts
gawd
vsdarn
  • Slang
4 9.9

A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance

is a mild everyday exclamation used more for small annoyances
freakin
vsdarn
  • NSFW
4 9.9

A short cry people say to show surprise or anger

is a mild exclamation that expresses annoyance without strong intensification
aagh
vsdarn
  • Informal
3 9.9

A short cry people make when they feel pain or are annoyed

is the mild exclamation used for annoyance or surprise, not pain
friggin
vsdarn
  • NSFW
3 9.9

To say when you feel angry, annoyed, or upset

is a simple mild exclamation and not mainly used to intensify other words
geesh
vsdarn
  • Informal
2 9.9

An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something

is a mild exclamation used broadly, sometimes less marked than this informal term
argh
vsdarn
  • Informal
1 9.8

A short sound that shows frustration or annoyance

is milder and less angry, used more for small annoyances or surprise
ack
vsdarn
  • Informal
1 9.9

A short word people say to show frustration or dismay

is a fuller mild exclamation used for annoyance or surprise in normal speech
fucken
vsdarn
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A rude strong word said to show anger or surprise

is a mild nonvulgar exclamation used for ordinary annoyance or surprise
dratted
vsdarn
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A mild word people use to show they are annoyed about something

is a general mild exclamation for annoyance, surprise, or frustration in many contexts
blech
vsdarn
  • Informal
1 9.9

A short sound people say to show dislike or disgust

is a mild exclamation mainly for annoyance, frustration, or surprise
goddamnit
vsdarn
  • Offensive
1 9.9

People say a strong angry word when they feel very annoyed

is a milder, nonprofane exclamation for ordinary annoyance or surprise
danged
vsdarn
  • Informal
1 9.0

A short word people say to show mild anger, surprise, or frustration

is the general mild exclamation used in standard informal speech
to consarn
vsdarn
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To say an old-fashioned rude word to show surprise or anger

is the common modern mild exclamation rather than old-fashioned speech
durn
vsdarn
  • Informal
9.9

Feeling a little angry or annoyed about something

is the neutral mild exclamation used without the joking softened quality
durned
vsdarn
  • Informal
9.9

A short word said to show surprise or mild anger

is a basic mild exclamation without necessarily adding extra emphasis
drats
vsdarn
  • Informal
9.2

A mild exclamation people say when they feel annoyed or disappointed

is the everyday mild exclamation that covers annoyance and surprise equally
dadgum
vsdarn
  • Archaic
9.9

A short word said to show mild surprise, annoyance, or frustration

is the standard mild exclamation used broadly, not especially rustic
consarned
vsdarn
  • Archaic
9.9

An old mild word people say when they are annoyed

is the common modern mild exclamation rather than an old dialectal form
dern
vsdarn
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word used to show anger or strong dislike

is the modern mild exclamation used broadly, not the archaic dialectal form
blooming heck
vsdarn
  • UK
9.1

A short shout people use to show surprise or mild annoyance

is the plain mild exclamation used commonly without the euphemistic flourish
oh my heck
vsdarn
  • Informal
9.9

A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something

is broader and used for annoyance or frustration as well as surprise
I'll be darned
vsdarn
  • Informal
9.9

A way to say you are surprised or do not believe something

is used more for annoyance and frustration as well as surprise
bejeezus
vsdarn
  • Informal
9.9

A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance

is a mild everyday exclamation that avoids religious reference or strong words
to OMG
vsdarn
  • Slang
8.3

To say or write a short exclamation to show surprise

is a spoken mild exclamation used in normal speech, not only online
yikes on bikes
vsdarn
  • Informal
9.9

A short shout showing surprise, alarm, or disbelief

is a short mild exclamation mainly for annoyance rather than playful alarm
goldarn
vsdarn
  • Archaic
9.9

An exclamation said when you are annoyed or surprised

is the everyday nonoffensive exclamation used for small annoyances or surprise
goldamned
vsdarn
  • NSFW
9.9

People say this to show annoyance or strong feeling

is even gentler and avoids resembling strong profane expressions

Idioms

darn it
  • Informal
17 8.4

A short phrase people say when they feel frustrated or disappointed

darn tootin'
  • Slang
2 9.9

A phrase you say when you strongly agree or feel sure

How Strong

for crying out loud
  • Informal
31 8.2
damn
  • NSFW
6.7
darn
  • Informal
62 6.7
to drat
  • Informal
1 8.6
oh my
321 6.6

Surface Forms

darn main

Etymology

Darn as an exclamation is a mild, polite substitute for the stronger word damn, used to show annoyance, surprise, or frustration without swearing. So saying darn lets you complain or express regret in a softer way.