curse

/kərs/

/kəs/

Other forms: cursed; curses; cursing

When you curse, you say words you wouldn't want your mother or your priest to hear you saying. A curse can also be wishing something awful on someone, like the witch who puts a curse on Sleeping Beauty.

When you hear "maledizione!" in an Italian opera, somebody's having a curse placed on them. The Italian word tells you just what a curse is — it's a "bad saying" — a really bad saying. Like "May you and all your family have nothing but Brussels sprouts to eat forever and ever!" That would be a curse. As a verb, the act of cursing will lead to getting your mouth washed out with soap.

Definitions of curse

1. noun

   an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group
   synonyms: condemnation, execration

   types:

   anathema

   a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication

   imprecation, malediction

   the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)

   type of:

   denouncement, denunciation

   a public act of denouncing
2. noun

   an evil spell
   “a witch put a curse on his whole family”

   synonyms: hex, jinx, whammy

   type of:

   charm, magic spell, magical spell, spell

   a verbal formula believed to have magical force
3. noun

   a severe affliction
   synonyms: torment

   type of:

   affliction

   a cause of great suffering and distress
4. noun

   something causing misery or death
   synonyms: bane, nemesis, scourge

   types:

   blight

   something that spoils, destroys, or impairs

   type of:

   affliction

   a cause of great suffering and distress
5. verb

   wish harm upon; invoke evil upon
   synonyms: anathemise, anathemize, bedamn, beshrew, damn, imprecate, maledict

   antonyms:

   bless

   give a benediction to

   type of:

   arouse, bring up, call down, call forth, conjure, conjure up, evoke, invoke, put forward, raise, stir

   summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
6. noun

   profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
   synonyms: curse word, cuss, expletive, oath, swearing, swearword

   type of:

   profanity

   vulgar or irreverent speech or action
7. verb

   utter obscenities or profanities
   synonyms: blaspheme, cuss, imprecate, swear

   blaspheme

   speak of in an irreverent or impious manner

   type of:

   express, give tongue to, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
8. verb

   heap obscenities upon
   type of:

   abuse, blackguard, clapperclaw, shout

   use foul or abusive language towards
9. verb

   exclude from a church or a religious community
   synonyms: excommunicate, unchurch

   excommunicate

   oust or exclude from a group or membership by decree

   type of:

   exclude, keep out, shut, shut out

   prevent from entering; shut out