curse

[ kurs ]

/ kɜrs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR curse 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.

Slang. the menstrual period; menstruation (usually preceded by the).

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.

Nearby words

Origin of curse

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

SYNONYMS 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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR curse ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR curse

1, 9. blessing, benediction. 10. bless.

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Related formscurs·er, nounout·curse, verb (used with object), out·cursed, out·curs·ing.un·curs·ing, adjective

Can be confusedcoarse course cursecurse cuss

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for curse

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
Throwing out a ceremonial first pitch has always been a blessing and a curse.
Viral Video of the Day: Chrissy Teigen's Drunken Dodger Pitch|Jack Holmes|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The remoteness of the area has been both its curse and its blessing throughout history.
Iraq’s Long-Lost Mythical Temple Has Been Found…and Is In Danger of Disappearing Again|Nina Strochlic|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was too desperate to curse his fate—he could only long for food.
The Ape, the Idiot & Other People|W. C. Morrow
Its been the curse of my life to be the son of an eminent man.
The Bishop's Apron|W. Somerset Maugham
In a day or two the defeated aspirant had further cause to curse his false friend.
The heart of happy hollow|Paul Laurence Dunbar
I beg you to greet for me all our old friends in the Palatinate; I curse this war to-day more than ever.
The Correspondence of Madame, Princess Palatine, Mother of the Regent; of Marie-Adlade de Savoie, Duchesse de Bourgogne; and of Madame de Maintenon, in Relation to Saint-Cyr|Charlotte-Elisabeth, duchesse d Orlans; Marie Adelaide, of Savoy, Duchess of Burgundy; and Madame de Maintenon
Yet you would not curse her now—were she lying here at your feet—or if you were standing by her deathbed?
Recreations of Christopher North, Volume I (of 2)|John Wilson

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 Formscurser, 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

Word Origin and History for curse

curse

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.

curse

Old English cursian, from the source of curse (n.). Meaning "to swear profanely" is from early 13c. Related: Cursed; cursing.

curse

noun

verb (used with object), cursed or curst, curs·ing.

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

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Origin of curse

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for curse

curse

noun

verb curses, cursing, cursed or archaic curst

Word Origin for curse

curse

curse