curse

American  

[kurs] / kɜrs /

noun

1. the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc.

   Synonyms:

   malediction, fulmination, execration, imprecation

   Antonyms:

   benediction, blessing

2. a formula or charm intended to cause such misfortune to another.

3. the act of reciting such a formula.

4. a profane oath; curse word.

5. an evil that has been invoked upon one.

   Synonyms:

   torment, affliction, plague, scourge, bane, trouble, calamity, misfortune

6. the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.

   Synonyms:

   torment, affliction, plague, scourge, bane

7. something accursed.

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

9. an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.

   Synonyms:

   imprecation, malediction, fulmination, execration

   Antonyms:

   benediction, blessing

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verb (used with object)

cursed, curst, cursing

1. to wish or invoke evil, calamity, injury, or destruction upon.

   Antonyms:

   bless

2. to swear at.

3. to blaspheme.

4. to afflict with great evil.

   Synonyms:

   doom, afflict, scourge, plague

5. to excommunicate.

verb (used without object)

cursed, curst, cursing

1. to utter curses; swear profanely.

curse British  

/ kɜːs /

noun

1. a profane or obscene expression of anger, disgust, surprise, etc; oath

2. an appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person, group, etc

3. harm resulting from an appeal to a supernatural power

   to be under a curse

4. something that brings or causes great trouble or harm

5. a saying, charm, effigy, etc, used to invoke a curse

6. an ecclesiastical censure of excommunication

7. informal menstruation or a menstrual period

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verb

1. (intr) to utter obscenities or oaths

2. (tr) to abuse (someone) with obscenities or oaths

3. (tr) to invoke supernatural powers to bring harm to (someone or something)

4. (tr) to bring harm upon

5. (tr) another word for excommunicate

Related Words

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

• curser noun
• outcurse verb (used with object)
• uncursing adjective

Etymology

Origin of curse

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

Example Sentences

Plastic clattered on concrete, and someone cursed in . . . was that Choctaw?

From Literature

There’s also a family curse, which is what ultimately compels Rachel to stay, even at a reception that echoes Luis Buñuel’s “The Exterminating Angel.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But is walking in their footsteps a gift or a curse?

From BBC

“All I can do is think back and curse myself for not taking the warning signs seriously.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In entertainment circles, the Oscar curse is a dreaded phenomenon, characterized by actors who have been nominated or won an Oscar, only for their post-prestige careers to be fraught with flops.

From Salon

Related Words

• bane
• burden
• calamity
• disaster
• evil
• jinx
• scourge