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
Sam Moses3
: 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)
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
Kenneth Roberts5
: a cause of great harm or misfortune : torment
His fame turned out to be a curse, not a blessing.
6
: menstruation
—used with the
cursed; cursing
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
: to utter imprecations : swear
cursing loudly
Examples of curse in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
He cursed himself for being so careless.
She cursed her bad luck.
In the book the evil witch curses the villagers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Phelan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
But many are finding that blessing comes with a curse.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Bob Rountree, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
Advertisement Advertisement As the head of a legal organization that advocates for immigrants, I’m cursed with a front-row view of the framework that threatens to erode our democracy.
—Kica Matos, Time, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for curse
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Noun
This wasn't the first time one reduced me to spewing curses, just the first time a robot has accused me of impertinence.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
But many are finding that blessing comes with a curse.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
The Compleat Angler burned down in 2008, leaving a vacuum, but historic Alice Town and Bailey Town survive, a bulwark against the development that some say has cursed the island.
—Bob Rountree, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
Advertisement Advertisement As the head of a legal organization that advocates for immigrants, I’m cursed with a front-row view of the framework that threatens to erode our democracy.
—Kica Matos, Time, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for curse
Cite this Entry
“Curse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curse. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
curse
1 of 2 noun1
: a calling for harm or injury to come to someone
2
: a word or an expression used in cursing or swearing
3
: evil or misfortune that comes as if in answer to a curse
4
: a cause of great harm or evil
curse
2 of 2 verb
cursed; cursing
1
: to call upon divine power to send harm or evil upon
2
3
: to bring unhappiness or evil upon : afflict
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