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cursed

cursed

1 5.3
Having bad luck because of a magic spell, sometimes used to show anger or strong feeling
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɜrst/
  • Literature
translation icon : maldito
  • The villagers say that the cursed treasure is hidden in the mountains, bringing only disaster to those who seek it.

There is a cursed fairy king.

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Examples

  • We follow a girl who has been cursed alongside her brothers.

  • There is a cursed fairy king.

  • The old mansion has a cursed reputation, as many believe it brings misfortune to its owners.

  • My friend always complains about her cursed luck with finding parking spots in the city.

Synonyms

damned
vscursed
  • NSFW
300 5.6

Said to make something sound very strong

is mainly about being under supernatural punishment, not only emphasis
unlucky
vscursed
91 1.0

Having bad luck that causes problems

is also used to show annoyance and strong feeling as emphasis
jinxed
vscursed
  • Informal
2 7.9

Having a lot of bad luck that causes many problems

is stronger meaning under a spell or doomed not just suffering bad luck
curst
vscursed
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Very unlucky or evil and often used to show strong anger

is the common modern word used both literally and for emphasis
accurst
vscursed
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Under a curse and likely to have bad things happen

is the everyday word used for both emotional emphasis and literal doom
hexed
vscursed
  • Informal
1 8.8

Having bad luck because someone put a curse on them

is broader used both for supernatural harm and for emotional emphasis
ill-starred
vscursed
  • Literature
1 9.0

Likely to have bad luck and end badly

is more about being under supernatural harm or used for strong annoyance
doggoned
vscursed
  • Archaic
1 9.0

Used before a word to show mild anger or surprise

is the stronger word used both literally and for harsh emphasis
accursed
vscursed
  • Literature
8.8

Suffering bad luck and likely to have more trouble

is also used to express annoyance or strong feeling as emphasis
maledict
vscursed
  • Archaic
9.9

Under a curse that brings bad luck

is the common less formal term used for literal or emphatic sense
ill-omened
vscursed
  • Literature
8.7

A thing that people think will bring bad luck

is applied more to being under harm or to express strong annoyance
blessed
vscursed
  • Informal
6.1

Often comes before a word to show anger or surprise

is negative referring to being under harm or used to show strong angry emphasis

Antonyms

2.3

Feeling lucky and happy about something

Compounds

An annual marsh plant with divided leaves and small flowers

How Cursed

damned
5 9.3
cursed
  • Literature
1 5.3
ill-starred
  • Literature
1 9.0
unlucky
91 1.0

Surface Forms

cursed positive

Morphology

cursed = curse (semi-transparent) = curse + ed

Form is clearly 'curse' + '-ed', but the emphatic or colloquial use expressing annoyance is a pragmatic extension rather than a strictly literal result of being under a formal curse, so learners may not predict the nuance.

Etymology

Cursed comes from the old word curse, which means a 'spoken wish for harm' or bad luck. So if something is called cursed it was thought to have bad luck, and today people also use it to show strong annoyance.