cursed

[ kur-sid, kurst ]

/ ˈkɜr sɪd, kɜrst /

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adjective

under a curse; damned.

deserving a curse; hateful; abominable.

Nearby words

Origin of cursed

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at curse, -ed²

SYNONYMS FOR cursed

1 accursed.

2 damnable, execrable.

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Related formscurs·ed·ly, adverbcurs·ed·ness, nounun·cursed, adjective

Definition for cursed (2 of 2)

curse

[ kurs ]

/ kɜrs /

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.

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.

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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 cursed

Cubans are cursed whether they find a means of escape or remain.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“When Gil cursed, he cursed in certain ways that I could respect it,” Herc says.
‘The Prince of Chocolate City’: When Gil Scott-Heron Became A Music Icon|Marcus Baram|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Since then, the group has been cursed with outsized expectations.
Interpol on the Arrogance of Believing Their Own Myth and Life After Carlos D.|Melissa Leon|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This infuriated his grandfather, who cursed Barry and never spoke to him again.
Sebastian Barry’s Quarrel With Irish History|J.P. O’Malley|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Cursed be Canaan;  A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
The Story of Noah's Ark From the Bible’s Book of Genesis|The Daily Beast|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The knife missed the lung by half a centimeter,—cursed be the devil!
The Mystery of the Lost Dauphin|Emilia Pardo Bazn
Much and bitterly did she weep over her cursed existence, and earnestly prayed that she might be liberated from her tormentor.
Tales of the Wonder Club, Volume II|Alexander Huth
That cursed baronet is getting ahead of me, but I think I am entitled to a bonfire as well as he is.
Willy Reilly|William Carleton
For that reason I cursed her, that she might go to the world of mortals.
The Kath Sarit Sgara|Somadeva Bhatta
Ingram cursed, and sprang at him, but Glyde stiffened his arm and held him off.
Rest Harrow|Maurice Hewlett

British Dictionary definitions for cursed (1 of 2)

cursed

curst

/ (ˈkɜːsɪd, kɜːst) /

adjective

under a curse

deserving to be cursed; detestable; hateful

Derived Formscursedly, adverbcursedness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for cursed (2 of 2)

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 cursed (1 of 2)

curse

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

Word Origin and History for cursed (1 of 2)

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.

cursed

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of cursed

Definition for cursed (2 of 2)

curse

noun

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

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

Origin of curse

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for cursed

British Dictionary definitions for cursed (1 of 2)

cursed

curst

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for cursed (2 of 2)

curse

noun

verb curses, cursing, cursed or archaic curst

Word Origin for curse

Word Origin and History for cursed (1 of 2)

curse

Word Origin and History for cursed (1 of 2)

curse