curse

[ kurs ]

/ kɜrs /

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See synonyms for: curse / cursed / curses / cursing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

Informal.Usually the curse . the menstrual period; menstruation.

an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.

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.

verb (used without object), cursed or curst, curs·ing.

to utter curses; swear profanely.

OTHER WORDS FOR curse

1, 9 imprecation, execration, fulmination, malediction.

5 misfortune, calamity, trouble.

5, 6 bane, scourge, plague, affliction, torment.

13 plague, scourge, afflict, doom.

See synonyms for curse on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR curse

1, 9 blessing, benediction.

10 bless.

See antonyms for curse on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of curse

First recorded in before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (verb), Old English curs (noun), cursian (verb), of disputed origin

synonym study for curse

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM curse

curser, nounoutcurse, verb (used with object), out·cursed, out·curs·ing.un·curs·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH curse

1. coarse, course, curse 2. curse , cuss

Words nearby curse

curry favor, curry leaf, curry powder, curry puff, Curschmann's spirals, curse, cursed, curses, curse word, cursive, cursor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use curse in a sentence

If there really was a curse, he should have been one of its first victims.
What the mummy’s curse reveals about your brain|Kathryn Hulick|January 14, 2021|Science News For Students
The Jazz will use wings and forwards to set ball screens and confuse defenders, but the lion’s share of Mitchell’s attack involves a partnership with Gobert that’s both a gift and a curse.
Can Donovan Mitchell Reach His Potential In The Bubble?|Michael Pina|August 3, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Your already-simmering emotions leap into overdrive, and you lay on the horn and shout curses no one can hear.
Cars Will Soon Be Able to Sense and React to Your Emotions|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|July 29, 2020|Singularity Hub
With their curse lifted, the Red Sox just kept winning over the next decade and a half.
Nomar Garciaparra’s Full Career Wasn’t Enough For Cooperstown — But It Was Still Damn Good|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|July 28, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

These mummies come complete with mazes and hieroglyphs and maybe a curse or two.
Let’s learn about mummies|Bethany Brookshire|July 8, 2020|Science News For Students
A curse-filled half hour that saw my blood boil as my filing deadline ticked further into the past.
J.K. Rowling Pens the Greatest Horror Story Ever: Dolores Umbridge Was Real|Kevin Fallon|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, these “potty-mouthed princesses” curse like proverbial sailors to prove a point.
Marcel the Shell Returns, Potty-Mouthed Princesses, and More Viral Videos|Alex Chancey|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His memory is encyclopedic--a curse for a man who feels persecuted.
Will the Real Jim Palmer Please Stand Up|Tom Boswell|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For much of our political history, the “third term” curse was non-existent.
Political Mythbusting: Third Term’s the Charm|Jeff Greenfield|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As it is, whatever worries will keep the next Democratic nominee up at night, that “third term curse” should not be one of them.
Political Mythbusting: Third Term’s the Charm|Jeff Greenfield|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Seen thus poverty became rather a blessing than a curse, or at least a dispensation prescribing the proper lot of man.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
A child, under exactly similar circumstances as far as its knowledge goes, cannot very well curse God and die.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
He was given no reply save a muttered curse, a command to hold his tongue, and an angry tug at his tied arms.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
And then he walked about the room, reflecting on the curse of his life—his besetting sin—irresolution.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
The Jesuit expatiated on the curse of heaven, which now manifested itself on the head of the Duke in every relation of his life.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter

British Dictionary definitions for curse

curse

/ (kɜːs) /

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 powerto 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

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

Derived forms of curse

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

curse

OTHER WORDS FOR curse

OPPOSITES FOR curse

Origin of curse

synonym study for curse

OTHER WORDS FROM curse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH curse

Words nearby curse

Words related to curse

How to use curse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for curse

Derived forms of curse

Word Origin for curse