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curse

curse

126 4.9
A person or thing that causes a lot of harm
  • noun
  • /kɜrs/
translation icon : maldición
  • But it may be that the blessings and the curse of being human go hand in hand.
  • blessing and a curse
  • resource curse
  • oil curse

He says depression feels like a personal curse bestowed on us.

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Examples

Synonyms

pain
vscurse
  • Informal
418 3.0

Something that causes annoyance or trouble

is a source of great harm and suffering not merely everyday annoyance
affliction
vscurse
45 6.7

A condition that causes great pain or suffering, often from illness

is usually the condition of harm rather than the direct agent causing it
scourge
vscurse
  • Formal
38 8.2

A person or thing that causes great suffering

is any cause of great harm regardless of size or social reach
bane
vscurse
30 7.8

Something that causes a lot of trouble or harm

is a broad source of great harm rather than only fatal causes
the devil
vscurse
  • Informal
29 7.0

Something very difficult to do or deal with

is a neutral name for a cause of great harm rather than an idiomatic phrase
bane of
vscurse
10 7.4

A thing that causes a lot of trouble for someone

is any cause of great harm or suffering not limited to annoyance
4 7.8

A person or thing that causes a lot of trouble and annoyance for someone

is a cause of great harm that may be sudden rather than ongoing
whammy
vscurse
  • Slang
2 9.9

A magic spell believed to cause bad luck

is a general source of great harm not only magical bad luck
infliction
vscurse
1 8.1

A person or thing that makes people unhappy

is the general term for a cause of great harm not only minor annoyance
malison
vscurse
  • Archaic
9.9

A wish that bad things will happen to someone

is the general modern name for great harm not the archaic word

Antonyms

269 1.4

A good thing or situation that brings happiness

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

bane
30 7.8
curse
126 4.9
problem
1.2
nuisance
62 3.6

Surface Forms

curse singular
curses plural

Etymology

Curse can also mean a person or thing that causes great trouble, like a 'curse' on a village that brings disease or bad luck. That's why we call things like malaria or heavy traffic a curse — they bring ongoing harm or trouble.