1
as in condemnations
a prayer that harm will come to someone
uttered a curse upon his persecutor from the scaffold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in swears
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression
started muttering curses after hitting his thumb with the hammer
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in threats
a source of harm or misfortune
intolerance of personal differences is a curse of humanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in condemns
to ask a divine power to send harm or evil upon
I curse the guy who had the idea of having annoying salespeople call up innocent people to sell them things they don't want
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plagues
to cause persistent suffering to
misfortunes and problems seem to have cursed everyone ever associated with that house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cusses
to use offensive or indecent language
you'll have to put a quarter in the jar every time you curse
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in blames
to use profane or obscene language at or about
cursed him for showing up late, when he knew how important it was to be on time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of curses
Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Indeed, various curses and slurs could be heard shouted from the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, even during some segments broadcast to audiences in England and abroad.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
The earliest depictions of slavery were already crawling with the terrible proceedings the Gothic tends to depict, from bloody whippings to family curses to the wrathful wraiths of the slain enslaved.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Gamers will know Brok as the beloved weapons dealer with an unrivaled artistry for creative, foul-mouthed curses.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
And as relief from one of the greatest curses imaginable – chronic pain – the neuro-key may offer pain modulation without the expense, side effects, and addiction risk of opioids and systemic drugs.
—New Atlas, 29 Dec. 2025
Up ahead, two men argued, their shouts and curses drowning out the hum of a helicopter that circled in the distance.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The source of a zombie outbreak can come from anywhere, including ancient curses and meteorites from space.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Clio Chang, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2025
The driver curses at those outside and inside the car.
—Jason Kravarik, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
In a beat of levity that carries new weight, Geralt quietly curses afterward.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Liam Perino curses in front of his parents.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
Pay multiple people from the crafts site Etsy to perform tarot readings, lift any existing curses and otherwise engage in witchcraft.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Indeed, various curses and slurs could be heard shouted from the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, even during some segments broadcast to audiences in England and abroad.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
The earliest depictions of slavery were already crawling with the terrible proceedings the Gothic tends to depict, from bloody whippings to family curses to the wrathful wraiths of the slain enslaved.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Gamers will know Brok as the beloved weapons dealer with an unrivaled artistry for creative, foul-mouthed curses.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
And as relief from one of the greatest curses imaginable – chronic pain – the neuro-key may offer pain modulation without the expense, side effects, and addiction risk of opioids and systemic drugs.
—New Atlas, 29 Dec. 2025
Up ahead, two men argued, their shouts and curses drowning out the hum of a helicopter that circled in the distance.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The source of a zombie outbreak can come from anywhere, including ancient curses and meteorites from space.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Unclear if Instagram curses are transferrable.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2025
The driver curses at those outside and inside the car.
—Jason Kravarik, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
In a beat of levity that carries new weight, Geralt quietly curses afterward.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Liam Perino curses in front of his parents.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curses
Noun
-
In the days and weeks following the Hamas massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023, students and colleagues alike in his academic community posted fiery condemnations of and expressions of moral disgust toward … Israel.—
Jesse Brown,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Sunni imams issued fatwas, legal condemnations by Islamic religious leaders, against us infidels.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kennedy could be heard hurling swears at the Swedish team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Under the watchful eye of sheriffs deputies who threatened to ticket anyone caught standing in the road, along with a small number of National Guard members, the protesters took turns screaming swears and warming up in nearby parked cars.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Administration’s treatment of immigration officers as a vulnerable group rests on claims that agents now face unprecedented threats.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
According to Hartling, school officials have since learned that similar threats were directed at other schools across the state.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Murphy Austin condemns antisemitism, violence, and acts of hatred in any form.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The hypocrite pretends to be good because the hypocrite believes that society admires good and condemns wrong.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Still, a key downside risk for all three companies is the uncertainty that plagues the future of energy markets, according to Goldman.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Shifting to the execution phase By securing graphite early, the company aims to mitigate supply chain volatility that often plagues advanced nuclear projects.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Jones blames that impasse for kicking the financial stability of TSA officers like a football.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Papperger blames the delays on Ukrainian bureaucracy.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Chico State allegations were covered by the Chico Enterprise-Record, which reported in 2006 that players accused Goodenbour of degrading them and directing obscenities at them.—
Julia Haney,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But as the film quietly signals, a society’s obscenities are not aberrations, only parts of an ugly chapter in a long history.—
Michael Snyder,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curses. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
