Skip to main content
curse

curse

262 5.5
A magic spell that brings harm to a person or thing
  • noun
  • /kɜrs/
  • Literature
translation icon : maldición
  • He tried to lift the curse that plagued his village for generations.
  • remove a curse
  • place a curse
  • binding curses

Now, is it possible that there's a curse of Amman on this man?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I'd think it was the curse of my family that had somehow done it to us.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The gypsy woman placed a curse upon my head.

  • All right, There was a curse placed on his food.

  • There is an ancient Chinese curse that says, "May you live in interesting times."

    Academic text (1992)
  • And so she put a curse on him, and he became a crazy old man.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Good people, friends, family members, all came under the curse.

  • And all of a sudden there's this curse on her life.

  • And should we utter the cruel curse of God, On whose head would it fall?

  • The new enemy then hired a sorcerer, whose curse made Liakot go mad.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The gypsy woman placed a curse upon my head during the full moon.

Synonyms

hex
vscurse
  • Literature
28 8.7

An evil spell that brings bad luck to a person or place

is a general supernatural harmful act or utterance, not only a charm
malediction
vscurse
  • Literature
3 9.9

Words spoken to wish harm on someone

is broader, covering any supernatural spell or harmful utterance
whammy
vscurse
  • Slang
2 9.9

A magic spell believed to cause bad luck

covers both sudden bad luck and slower harmful spells or words
imprecation
vscurse
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A spoken wish for bad things to happen to someone

is the general act or spell aiming to cause harm, not just speech
condemnation
vscurse
  • Offensive
1 9.6

A spoken wish that something bad will happen to someone

is a broader label for any harmful supernatural spell or spoken wish
jinx
vscurse
  • Informal
1 8.1

A spell people think causes bad luck

is broader, including direct harmful utterances as well as bad luck charms
malison
vscurse
  • Archaic
9.9

A wish that bad things will happen to someone

is the modern general term for harmful supernatural spells or utterances
execration
vscurse
  • Formal
9.9

A strong spoken curse that shows deep hatred or disgust

focuses on supernatural harm broadly rather than emotional hostility

Idioms

6.0

Complain angrily about bad weather that causes problems

Compounds

curse word
  • Offensive
8 5.8

A rude word people say to show strong anger or surprise

commentator's curse
  • Literature
8.1

Bad luck that happens after a sports commentator praises a player or team

9.9

An infection caught during sex, especially syphilis

How Harmful

malediction
  • Literature
3 9.9
curse
  • Literature
262 5.5
jinx
  • Informal
1 8.1

Surface Forms

curse singular
curses plural

Etymology

Curse comes from old words that meant 'to wish harm' and was used for a spoken magic wish meant to bring bad luck. That's why a curse is a spell or prayer meant to harm someone or something.