curse

[ kurs ]
See synonyms for: cursecursedcursescursing on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc.

  2. a formula or charm intended to cause such misfortune to another.

  1. the act of reciting such a formula.

  2. a profane oath; curse word.

  3. an evil that has been invoked upon one.

  4. the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.

  5. something accursed.

  6. Informal.Usually the curse . the menstrual period; menstruation.

  7. an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.

verb (used with object),cursed or curst, curs·ing.
  1. to wish or invoke evil, calamity, injury, or destruction upon.

  2. to swear at.

  1. to blaspheme.

  2. to afflict with great evil.

  3. to excommunicate.

verb (used without object),cursed or curst, curs·ing.
  1. to utter curses; swear profanely.

Origin of curse

1
First recorded in before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (verb), Old English curs (noun), cursian (verb), of disputed origin

synonym study For curse

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.

Other words for curse

Opposites for curse

Other words from curse

  • curser, noun
  • outcurse, verb (used with object), out·cursed, out·curs·ing.
  • un·curs·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with curse

Words Nearby curse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use curse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for curse

curse

/ (kɜːs) /


noun
  1. a profane or obscene expression of anger, disgust, surprise, etc; oath

  2. an appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person, group, etc

  1. harm resulting from an appeal to a supernatural power: to be under a curse

  2. something that brings or causes great trouble or harm

  3. a saying, charm, effigy, etc, used to invoke a curse

  4. an ecclesiastical censure of excommunication

  5. the curse informal menstruation or a menstrual period

verbcurses, cursing, cursed or archaic curst
  1. (intr) to utter obscenities or oaths

  2. (tr) to abuse (someone) with obscenities or oaths

  1. (tr) to invoke supernatural powers to bring harm to (someone or something)

  2. (tr) to bring harm upon

  3. (tr) another word for excommunicate

Origin of curse

1
Old English cursian to curse, from curs a curse

Derived forms of curse

  • curser, noun

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