goddamn good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "goddamn good" is correct and usable in written English, though it contains strong language.
It can be used to express strong approval or admiration for something, often in informal contexts. Example: "The food at that restaurant was goddamn good; I can't wait to go back."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The upside of this change was that, all of a sudden, men on the subway looked "SO GODDAMN GOOD"; the downside was that it was now impossible to guess anything about a man from his clothes.

The New Yorker

Just too goddamn good.

Vice

At least we'll all look really goddamn good, even though we'll be murdering eachother in a gnarly state of nature.

Vice

"I'm goddamn good at my work and so I confine myself to that," she says.

The Guardian - Film

"Goddamn good news reporting, ma'am," Edward R. Murrow told her off camera.

The New York Times - Books

If they can capture what we were then, they're gonna have a goddamn good show".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

A balance between pegging enemies as goddamn good-for-nothin' sucka-ass chumps, while addressing the black experience around race and intra-community strife with a gratuitousness that felt honest.

Vice

On arrival in Paris, Fishbelly sits in a boulevard café and marvels at the lack of attention from surrounding whites: "'I've been toting a hundred-pound sack of potatoes on my back all my life and it's goddamned good to get rid of it,' he told himself".

The Guardian - Books

I wore little tight skirts and high heels and I wish I had realised then just how goddamned good I looked because I squandered it and once I had my first child - and then three more - it was never the same again.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We might never have got to treasure his favourite bad guys, the too-beautiful-for-his-own-goddamn-good, super-loud young James Remar, and mega-twitchy David Patrick Kelly ("Warriors, come out to play-eeee!"), or that gigantic, brain-rattling explosion in Southern Comfort, which I think may be his masterpiece.

The Guardian - Film

While both can get very excitable about video cameras, connectivity, streamed media and so on, nobody gives a good goddamn about the vast majority of those features.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing dialog, use “goddamn good” to enhance the character's voice, especially if they are meant to sound gritty or expressive.

Common error

Avoid using "goddamn good" in formal writing or professional settings where strong language is inappropriate. Opt for alternatives like "exceptionally good" or "remarkably good" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "goddamn good" functions as an emphatic adjective phrase, modifying a noun to express a high degree of approval. As Ludwig AI pointed out, this phrase is usable in written English, but contains strong language.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "goddamn good" is an emphatic adjective phrase used to express strong approval or admiration. While grammatically correct, as Ludwig AI confirms, its use is limited to informal contexts due to the presence of profanity. Alternatives like "exceptionally good" or "incredibly good" can be used in more formal settings. It occurs most frequently in news and media sources, reflecting its informal register and expressive nature. Be mindful of the audience and tone when deciding to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

damn good

Removes "God" to soften the profanity slightly.

fucking good

Replaces the adjective and keeps the profanity.

incredibly good

Uses a less intense but still strong adjective.

exceptionally good

Replaces the profanity with a formal intensifier.

seriously good

Emphasizes the quality in a casual way.

remarkably good

Suggests something notably above average.

unusually good

Highlights the atypical excellence.

surprisingly good

Implies an unexpected level of quality.

utterly fantastic

Replaces "good" for a more enthusiastic assessment.

bloody brilliant

Offers a British English alternative expressing high praise.

FAQs

What does "goddamn good" mean?

The phrase "goddamn good" is an emphatic way of saying something is very good. It combines a profanity ("goddamn") with a positive adjective ("good") to express strong approval or admiration.

When is it appropriate to use "goddamn good"?

It is appropriate to use "goddamn good" in informal settings, such as casual conversations with friends or in creative writing where strong language adds to the effect. It should be avoided in formal or professional contexts.

What can I say instead of "goddamn good"?

You can use alternatives like "exceptionally good", "incredibly good", or "remarkably good" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "goddamn good" grammatically correct?

Yes, "goddamn good" is grammatically correct, functioning as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. However, its appropriateness depends on the context due to the strong language it contains.