Curse definition

kûrs
cursed curses cursing curst
See word origin
Frequency:
To invoke evil or misfortune upon; damn.
verb
29
9
To swear at; use profane, blasphemous, or obscene language against.
verb
15
5
A source or cause of evil; a scourge.
noun
17
8
To bring evil or injury on; afflict.
verb
8
0
(ecclesiastical) A censure, ban, or anathema.
noun
11
4
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A calling on God or the gods to send evil or injury down on some person or thing.
noun
6
0
The definition of a curse is a swear word or a bad word or the state of bad luck caused by someone wishing evil or injury to happen to someone else.

An example of a curse is the "f" word.

An example of a curse is when your enemy put a hex on you or wished bad things upon you.

noun
5
0
A profane, obscene, or blasphemous oath, imprecation, etc. expressing hatred, anger, vexation, etc.
noun
4
0
A supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane.
noun
4
0
(slang) A woman's menses.
noun
4
1
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To place a curse upon (a person or object).
verb
3
0
To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.
verb
3
0
Curse is defined as to wish evil or injury on someone or to use swear words.

An example of curse is when you wish that your enemy would get chicken pox.

An example of curse is when you say a bad word like the "f" word.

verb
4
2
To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment.
verb
4
2
To bring evil upon; afflict.

Was cursed with crippling arthritis.

verb
3
1
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(ecclesiastical) To put under a ban or anathema; excommunicate.
verb
3
1
Evil or injury that seems to come in answer to a curse.
noun
3
1
To call evil or injury down on; damn.
verb
3
1
To utter a curse or curses; swear; blaspheme.
verb
3
1
A prayer or imprecation that harm may befall someone.
noun
3
1
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A vulgar epithet.
noun
3
1
To speak or shout a vulgar curse or epithet.
verb
3
1
An appeal or prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone or something.
noun
2
0
Evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to such an appeal.

Bewailed the curse of ill health.

noun
2
0
To utter curses; swear.
verb
3
2
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Any cause of evil or injury.
noun
3
2
(intransitive) To use offensive or morally inappropriate language.
verb
2
1
A profane word or phrase; a swearword.
noun
6
6
To swear at.

Cursed the car because it wouldn't start.

verb
2
2
(often offensive) Menstruation. Used with the.
noun
1
1
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be cursed with
  • to be afflicted with; suffer from
idiom
3
0
the curse
  • menstruation, or a menstrual period
idiom
2
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
curse
Plural:
curses

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

be cursed with
the curse

Origin of curse

  • Middle English from Old English curs

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English, from Late Old English curs (“curse”), of unknown origin.

    From Wiktionary

Curse Sentence Examples

  • She didn't look back, but his muffled curse chased after her.

  • And yet the curse he'd feared was broken!

  • His face mottled with anger, he released her with a curse and paced.

  • Her curse was lost as she was sucked into the shadow world.

  • A curse on the lot of them, especially the state of Texas where the roads never end.

More sentences

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Also Mentioned In

Words near curse in the Dictionary