Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for curse on Thesaurus.com the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc. 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. the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble. something accursed. Slang the menstrual period; menstruation (usually preceded by the ). an ecclesiastical censure or anathema. Show More
verb (used with object), cursed or curst, curs·ing. to wish or invoke evil, calamity, injury, or destruction upon. to swear at. to blaspheme. to afflict with great evil. to excommunicate. Show More
verb (used without object), cursed or curst, curs·ing. to utter curses; swear profanely. Show More
Origin of curse before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (verb), Old English curs (noun), cursian (verb), of disputed origin
Related forms curs·er , noun out·curse , verb (used with object), out·cursed, out·curs·ing. un·curs·ing , adjective Synonyms for curse See more synonyms for 1, 9 .
imprecation ,
execration ,
fulmination ,
malediction .
5 .
misfortune ,
calamity ,
trouble .
5, 6 .
bane ,
scourge ,
plague ,
affliction ,
torment .
13 .
plague ,
scourge ,
afflict ,
doom .
Synonym study 10, 12 . 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for curse bane ,
obscenity ,
expletive ,
profanity ,
whammy ,
disaster ,
scourge ,
evil ,
calamity ,
burden ,
jinx ,
cuss ,
obloquy ,
malediction ,
execration ,
sacrilege ,
blasphemy ,
profanation ,
commination ,
imprecation Examples from the Web for curse Contemporary Examples of curse However, these “potty-mouthed princesses” curse like proverbial sailors to prove a point.
His memory is encyclopedic--a curse for a man who feels persecuted.
For much of our political history, the “third term” curse was non-existent.
Throwing out a ceremonial first pitch has always been a blessing and a curse .
The remoteness of the area has been both its curse and its blessing throughout history.
Historical Examples of curse The day which his Maker intended as a blessing, man has converted into a curse .
The school is a prison in which work is a punishment and a curse .
I found the story of the Bacillus, the curse that killed Darmstetter, that killed Helen.
I flung it upon the floor with a curse and threw myself back on my bed with a groan.
It was like one of those old incantations; almost like a curse .
Dust Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
British Dictionary definitions for curse 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 the curse informal menstruation or a menstrual period Show More
verb curses , cursing , cursed or archaic curst (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 Show More
Derived Forms curser , noun Word Origin for curse Old English cursian to curse, from curs a curse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for curse n. late Old English curs "a prayer that evil or harm befall one," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old French curuz "anger," or Latin cursus "course." Connection with cross is unlikely. No similar word exists in Germanic, Romance, or Celtic. Curses as a histrionic exclamation is from 1885. The curse "menstruation" is from 1930. Curse of Scotland , the 9 of diamonds in cards, is attested from 1791, but the origin is obscure.
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v. Old English cursian , from the source of curse (n.). Meaning "to swear profanely" is from early 13c. Related: Cursed ; cursing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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