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 cursing

It was after Brown refused, cursing at him and continuing to walk in the street, that Wilson said he made the connection.
The Three Biggest Unanswered Questions About Ferguson|Jacob Siegel|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Goodness knows I paid my share into the office “cursing jar” when I worked for her.
A Letter of Thanks to Michelle Rhee|Dmitri Mehlhorn|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, after the sharp, wildly fun two-part Veep finale, Selina Meyer is cursing all the way from the West Wing.
The ‘Veep’ Finale Twist Was Genius|Kevin Fallon|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before I figured this out, I spent many hours cursing at the technology on my head.
High-Tech Meditation: Swap Your Yogi for a Headset|Gregory Ferenstein|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It may seem as a shock to Veep fans, but all that cursing is actually an act in expert editing and judiciousness.
‘Veep’ Is a F*@king Masterclass in Cursing|Kevin Fallon|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He came up in a furious rage, cursing us and brandishing a revolver.
The Escaping Club|A. J. Evans
They wore the sombreros and leggings and leather belts, but there was no disorder, no cursing, no shouting nor yelling.
The Candidate|Joseph Alexander Altsheler
Even now, with a cursing throng of maniacs round him, he only thought of his own safety.
The Tangled Skein|Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
How strange it would seem for a cursing old sinner like me to preach and pray as that missionary does!
The Cabin on the Prairie|C. H. (Charles Henry) Pearson
"Boss—" he began in a tone of entreaty, but realizing that he was alone he fell weakly to cursing Gilmore.
The Just and the Unjust|Vaughan Kester

British Dictionary definitions for cursing

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 cursing

curse

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

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

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 cursing

curse

noun

verb curses, cursing, cursed or archaic curst

Word Origin for curse

curse

curse