curse
Americannoun
-
curses
plural
-
the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc.
- Synonyms:
- malediction, fulmination, execration, imprecation
- Antonyms:
- benediction, blessing
-
a formula or charm intended to cause such misfortune to another.
-
the act of reciting such a formula.
-
a profane oath; curse word.
-
an evil that has been invoked upon one.
- Synonyms:
- torment, affliction, plague, scourge, bane, trouble, calamity, misfortune
-
the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.
- Synonyms:
- torment, affliction, plague, scourge, bane
-
something accursed.
-
Informal. Usually the curse the menstrual period; menstruation.
-
an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.
- Synonyms:
- imprecation, malediction, fulmination, execration
- Antonyms:
- benediction, blessing
verb (used with object)
-
curses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cursed,
past participle, past
-
curst,
past participle, past (Archaic)
-
cursing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
curses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cursed,
past participle, past
-
curst,
past participle, past (Archaic)
-
cursing
present participle
noun
-
a profane or obscene expression of anger, disgust, surprise, etc; oath
-
an appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person, group, etc
-
harm resulting from an appeal to a supernatural power
to be under a curse
-
something that brings or causes great trouble or harm
-
a saying, charm, effigy, etc, used to invoke a curse
-
an ecclesiastical censure of excommunication
-
informal menstruation or a menstrual period
verb
-
(intr) to utter obscenities or oaths
-
(tr) to abuse (someone) with obscenities or oaths
-
(tr) to invoke supernatural powers to bring harm to (someone or something)
-
(tr) to bring harm upon
-
(tr) another word for excommunicate
Synonym Usage
Curse, blaspheme, swear are often interchangeable in the sense of using profane language. However, curse is the general word for the heartfelt invoking or angry calling down of evil on another: to curse an enemy. To blaspheme is to speak contemptuously or with abuse of God or of sacred things: to blaspheme openly. To swear is to use the name of God or of some holy person or thing as an exclamation to add force or show anger: to swear in every sentence.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
cursesimple
-
cursessimple
-
have cursedperfect
-
have curstperfect
-
has cursedperfect
-
has curstperfect
-
am cursingprogressive
-
are cursingprogressive
-
is cursingprogressive
-
have been cursingperfect progressive
-
has been cursingperfect progressive
Past
-
cursedsimple
-
curstsimple
-
had cursedperfect
-
had curstperfect
-
was cursingprogressive
-
were cursingprogressive
-
had been cursingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of curse
First recorded in before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (verb), Old English curs (noun), cursian (verb), of disputed origin
Explanation
When you curse, you say words you wouldn't want your mother or your priest to hear you saying. A curse can also be wishing something awful on someone, like the witch who puts a curse on Sleeping Beauty. When you hear "maledizione!" in an Italian opera, somebody's having a curse placed on them. The Italian word tells you just what a curse is — it's a "bad saying" — a really bad saying. Like "May you and all your family have nothing but Brussels sprouts to eat forever and ever!" That would be a curse. As a verb, the act of cursing will lead to getting your mouth washed out with soap.
Vocabulary lists containing curse
Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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Holes
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Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But Cregger's attempt at Resident Evil, which impressed both critics and fans, seemed to break the curse.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Madison famously said all public debt is a public curse.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
“SNL” lives in the now, and that can be a blessing and a curse, like when you feel like you’ve seen the same cold open lampooning President Trump 15 times already.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
For a story about witches who have both the curse to kill something and the ability to resurrect it, reappraising a dead-on-arrival film is appropriately meta.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
This family was so, well, incorrigibly miserable, one might easily conclude that they too were under a curse.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Research from the University of South Wales, Derby University and Manchester University showed modern brides are reluctant to buy pre-loved gowns because they're worried about stains, smells - and even "curses".
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2026
Mr. James also has a challenging role as the crusty salt who curses “dat ole davil sea” almost as many times as Hickey drones on about “pipe dreams” in “The Iceman Cometh.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025
As quickly as possible, the crew wrapped up their ill-gotten gains and made for the exit as the four guardians wailed pleas and threats and curses behind them.
From Slate ● Dec. 15, 2024
The Oilers may finally be ready to step back into the light, curses be damned.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2024
“And also curses. There are curses in the story.”
From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo
"The victim should be consoled at this time, not cursed," one of them read.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
He even suggested it might be cursed — “There is a hoodoo on it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
Then we have Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, whom Odysseus follows to Troy and, ultimately, his cursed fate.
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
My mother, Caroline, never cursed or raised her voice, and was almost fairylike in her tone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Just the basic standards of not sounding like a braying donkey and not smelling like a pair of cursed sneakers ruled out half the guys in her class.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
O luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree, How ill exchanged are things like these for thee!
From Salon ● Dec. 28, 2020
And i' faith, Jack, when the curst disease plagues men of our age 'tis there to stay.
From Our Admirable Betty A Romance by Jeffery Farnol
The stanza relating to Lilly ran as follows: ‘From th’ oracles of the Sibyls so silly, The curst predictions of William Lilly, And Dr. Sibbald’s Shoe-Lane Philly, Good Lord, deliver me.’
From Witch, Warlock, and Magician Historical Sketches of Magic and Witchcraft in England and Scotland by W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport) Adams
Let France disdain to sully thee, With the curst kidnapper's knavery!
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, November 11, 1893 by Various
No, no, sir, a Gad's name don't call me so, 'tis a curst name, 'twas my father's name, beside 'tis a name to hang a dog.
From Our Admirable Betty A Romance by Jeffery Farnol
Ars Technica reported last year that cursing would disable Google’s AI overview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
“I always tell people, it’s not the million-dollar estate that has people cursing probate. It’s the ’72 Ford Torino up on blocks in your garage,” said Keller.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
Indeed, old photos show a room with seating for all, with sharply dressed riders reading newspapers and enjoying casual conversation rather than standing in a sweaty mob and cursing their travel agents.
From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026
"It's like you're clinging on, for dear life, onto the ball that is continuing to roll, and sort of cursing yourself and the world the entire time."
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
I should have been cursing the system, but my mom and dad were much more tangible scapegoats.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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