curse

noun \ ˈkərs \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: curse in a Sentence

Definition of curse

1 : a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one : imprecation

People believe that there is a curse on the house.

2 : a profane or obscene oath or word

In an antechamber, his lieutenants suddenly heard the shattering of glass and angry curses.
—Sam Moses

3 : something that is cursed or accursed

"I … will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth."
—Jeremiah 26:6 (King James Version)

4 : evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution

… intolerance is the greatest curse of every land …
—Kenneth Roberts

5 : a cause of great harm or misfortune : torment

His fame turned out to be a curse, not a blessing.

6 : menstruation —used with the

See curse defined for English-language learners

See curse defined for kids

Examples of curse in a Sentence

I heard him utter a curse before the microphone was shut off.
The witch pronounced a curse in some strange language.
People believe that someone put a curse on the house.
His fame turned out to be a curse, not a blessing.

Recent Examples of curse from the Web

The Persian mythologies in the ancient Book of Kings, where heroes vanquish enemies both human and supernatural, are proposed as both a blessing and a curse — at least for the male population of contemporary Iran.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "In Iranian art show at LACMA, the past wrestles with the present," 4 June 2018
The steep and winding dirt path that leads down the 80-foot-high bluff from surf-centric Encinitas to Beacon’s Beach is a blessing and a curse.

— the editors, Outside Online, "North America's 16 Best, Most Overlooked Beaches," 1 June 2018
Will Democratic enthusiasm be a blessing or a curse?

— maeve reston, CNN, "California's 'top two' primary election tussle," 31 May 2018
Perhaps, in fact, the curses are longer because the Torah speaks in the language of people.

— rabbi avi weiss, Jewish Journal, "Let's be thankful for our blessings," 7 May 2018
The fact that 15-year-olds curse and do all kinds of other stuff shouldn’t really be a surprise.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Bhad Bhabie Coming To Toad's Place," 5 May 2018
But geography has been a curse rather than a blessing.

— The Economist, "Unstable neighbours and bad policy are just two of Jordan’s problems," 28 Apr. 2018
Is having a cottage on the Cape a blessing or a curse?

— New York Times, "Why Paul Theroux Loves Cape Cod," 16 Apr. 2018
Viewers are more decor-savvy, which is a blessing and a curse.

— patrick ryan, USA TODAY, "'Trading Spaces': Paige Davis, Ty Pennington on the revival, and home-improvement rivalries," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of curse

Middle English curs, going back to Old English, of uncertain origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

curse Synonyms

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

curse

verb

Definition of curse

cursed; cursing

transitive verb

1 : to use profanely insolent language against : blaspheme

cursing his god

2 a : to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon

He was cursed and fears he will die.

b : to execrate in fervent and often profane terms

cursed by future generations unless we act now

3 : to bring great evil upon : afflict

a land cursed with famine

intransitive verb

: to utter imprecations : swear

cursing loudly

See curse defined for English-language learners

Examples of curse in a Sentence

He cursed himself for being so careless.
She cursed her bad luck.
In the book the evil witch curses the villagers.

Recent Examples of curse from the Web

Authorities say that as Reese sat on a porch with his cousins at dusk in May 2017, Gates crept up, cursed LoweLife and fired, hitting Reese in the head, abdomen and groin.

— Washington Post, "Gangs embrace social media with often deadly results," 13 June 2018
Nicholson stomps around the film, hair askew and belly hanging out of his leopard print robe, cursing and assaulting with no pretense of gangster grace.

— lincoln michel, GQ, "Martin Scorsese's Best Gangster Movie Is on Netflix," 2 June 2018
In October 2017, an employee at a Whataburger location in Denison, about 100 miles north of Fort Worth, was fired for cursing at two uniformed police officers and refusing them service.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Boycott Whataburger? After detective with gun is turned away, restaurant apologizes," 1 June 2018
Navarro fought with Mnuchin during their trip to Beijing, shouting and cursing at the treasury secretary over his approach to the trade talks with their Chinese counterparts, two sources familiar with the incident told CNN.

— jeremy diamond, CNN, "Peter Navarro and Steven Mnuchin feuded at Beijing trade talks," 16 May 2018
Williams told police Thew cursed at him and called him a racial slur before exiting the store, which led Williams to follow him out to his car, the complaint said.

— tyler langan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Butler trustee allegedly used racial slur at gas station and told man 'you're messing with the wrong person. I'm a village official'," 18 Apr. 2018
Deadline reported that in the movie, Princess Turandot, played by Chinese actress Guan Xiaotong, is cursed by a mysterious power radiating from three bracelets given to her as birthday presents.

— hanna lustig, Teen Vogue, "Dylan Sprouse Will Star in a New Fantasy Movie Called Turandot," 30 May 2018
In the video taken by Randall with a GoPro camera mounted to his helmet, Rowe is seen pointing a gun at the motorcyclist during the confrontation, cursing and pulling Randall’s wallet out of his pocket.

— steve miletich, The Seattle Times, "King County sheriff’s detective who pulled gun on motorcyclist suspended," 16 Apr. 2018
But vases of flowers on tables have been cursed by their own prettiness.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "A new show of French garden art at the Met explores the politics of verdant leisure spaces.," 13 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of curse

Middle English cursen, going back to Old English cursian, probably derivative of curs ¹curse

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

curse Synonyms

Synonyms

imprecate;

Antonyms

bless;

Near Antonyms

applaud, commend, congratulate;

hex, jinx, voodoo;

dang, darn (also durn), dash;

cuss (out), fulminate (against), rail (against), revile;

CURSE Defined for English Language Learners

curse

noun

Definition of curse for English Language Learners

: an offensive word that people say when they are angry
: magical words that are said to cause trouble or bad luck for someone or the condition that results when such words are said
: a cause of trouble or bad luck

CURSE Defined for Kids

curse

noun \ ˈkərs \

Definition of curse for Students

1 : a series of words calling for harm to come to someone

2 : a word or an expression used in swearing or in calling for harm to come to someone

3 : evil or misfortune that comes as if in answer to someone's request

The land suffered the curse of drought.

4 : a cause of great harm or evil

All this money has been nothing but a curse.

curse

verb

Definition of curse for Students

cursed; cursing

1 : to call upon divine power to send harm or evil upon

He cursed his enemies.

2 : swear 1

3 : to bring unhappiness or evil upon : afflict

4 : to say or think bad things about (someone or something)

He cursed the unfairness of the world.

Learn More about curse

See words that rhyme with curse Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for curse Spanish Central: Translation of curse Nglish: Translation of curse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of curse for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curse

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curse

Definition of curse

Examples of curse in a Sentence

Recent Examples of curse from the Web

Origin and Etymology of curse

curse Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Occult Terms

curse

Definition of curse

Examples of curse in a Sentence

Recent Examples of curse from the Web

Origin and Etymology of curse

curse Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to CURSE

Related Phrases

CURSE Defined for English Language Learners

curse

Definition of curse for English Language Learners

CURSE Defined for Kids

curse

Definition of curse for Students

curse

Definition of curse for Students

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