Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for curse on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
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. Show More
verb (used without object), cursed or curst, curs·ing. to utter curses; swear profanely. Show More
Origin of curse before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (verb), Old English curs (noun), cursian (verb), of disputed origin
Related forms curs·er , noun out·curse , verb (used with object), out·cursed, out·curs·ing. un·curs·ing , adjective Synonyms for curse See more synonyms for 1, 9 .
imprecation ,
execration ,
fulmination ,
malediction .
5 .
misfortune ,
calamity ,
trouble .
5, 6 .
bane ,
scourge ,
plague ,
affliction ,
torment .
13 .
plague ,
scourge ,
afflict ,
doom .
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. 2018
Examples from the Web for cursing Contemporary Examples of cursing It was after Brown refused, cursing at him and continuing to walk in the street, that Wilson said he made the connection.
Goodness knows I paid my share into the office “cursing jar” when I worked for her.
Now, after the sharp, wildly fun two-part Veep finale, Selina Meyer is cursing all the way from the West Wing.
Before I figured this out, I spent many hours cursing at the technology on my head.
It may seem as a shock to Veep fans, but all that cursing is actually an act in expert editing and judiciousness.
Historical Examples of cursing He fondly imagined that they were cursing hard, if not loud.
A heavy body stumbled toward them, cursing in strange phrases.
Everyone is shouting to his animals and cursing in his own language.
Young Badman 'was greatly given also to swearing and cursing .'
He had spent those two months in bed, in cursing , and in worrying the people about him.
British Dictionary definitions for cursing 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 power to 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 Show More
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 Show More
Derived Forms 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
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Word Origin and History for cursing v. Old English cursian , from the source of curse (n.). Meaning "to swear profanely" is from early 13c. Related: Cursed ; cursing .
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n. 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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
