Blasted

A blasted thing in Southern and Appalachian speech is a mildly irritating or troublesome object or situation, with the word used as a polite intensifier in place of stronger profanity. It expresses exasperation without crossing into vulgarity.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern #Euphemisms

synonyms: darn, dang, confounded, dadgum, blasted thing

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I would say 'blasted' is less common that 'dadblasted' - but I've heard this one all my life.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I would say 'blasted' is less common that 'dadblasted' - but I've heard this one all my life.

Pronunciation

[BLASS-tid]
/ˈblæs.tɪd/

Meaning & Usage

- A mild oath expressing irritation (intensifier)

Clara:

This blasted zipper’s stuck again.

Roy:

Hold still. I’ll get it.

- A polite substitute for harsher language (adjective-like modifier)

Hessie:

Where’s that blasted remote?

Buck:

Right here under the couch cushion, like always.

variations: blasted thing, dad-blasted

★ If you want to sound authentically old-time Southern, say "that blasted thing" when something aggravates you. It signals irritation, but also that you’re minding your manners. ★

Origin and Etymology

The use of blasted as a mild oath began in British English during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As speakers migrated into the American South and the Appalachian highlands, the term became part of regional frontier speech. While once widespread across America, its conversational use faded in many regions but remained firmly preserved in Southern and Appalachian English. Today, it is recognized as part of the region’s long-standing tradition of softened exclamations intended to avoid profanity.

Usage Notes

In contemporary usage, blasted is much more common among older Southern and Appalachian speakers than elsewhere in the country. Outside the region, it tends to sound theatrical, British, or old-fashioned. Within the South, it remains a gentle, good-natured way to express frustration without resorting to harsher words.

Typically appears before the noun it modifies ("that blasted thing," "this blasted weather").
Functions similarly to "dadgum," "dang," or "confounded."
Still heard in rural areas and in humorous storytelling.
Rare as an everyday intensifier outside the South and Appalachia.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "blasted" offensive?

No. It’s a mild, polite exclamation.

Is it used outside the South?

Rarely in modern speech; more common in older Southern and Appalachian communities.

Does it literally mean something exploded?

Not in this usage-here it simply adds emphasis.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 2). Blasted. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/blasted
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Blasted." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/blasted.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Blasted." HillbillySlang.com. December 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/blasted.