curses 1 of 2

plural of curse

curses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of curse
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
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

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
Noun
Directed by Sébastien Vanicek (2023’s Infested), the follow-up to 2023 reboot Evil Dead Rise stars Wednesday‘s Hunter Doohan in a story about curses lingering too long in a family and the undead that haunts them. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 July 2026 Morgan and her Judgment Day cronies tried to bribe Danhausen to put curses on their opponents. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2026 In baseball, curses are no joking matter, and the Curse of the FTD Burger might now have befallen the team. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 Their greatest gifts are their biggest curses. Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026 Mostly, the show is an eccentric yet seamless mix of black humor and horror, with Wyck trying to convince Loftis that the island’s curses are real. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026 In Philadelphia, statue curses live on through the city's sports lore. Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 15 June 2026 Rather than a nod of respect, Spurs fans—myself now sheepishly included—are finding their favorite tees and caps drawing chirps, sneers, and curses. Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 10 June 2026 Chants laced with curses echo through Madison Square Garden. Albert Samaha, Washington Post, 3 June 2026
Verb
In one of the film's most surprising sequences, his character golfs the best game of his life during a terrifying storm, misses a putt, curses God, and gets struck by lightning. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026 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
  • While the federal government has the power to initiate eminent domain actions – also called condemnations – most are done by state and local governments.
    Aaron Walayat, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
  • The government’s unprecedented move this week sparked condemnations across the political and legal spectrum, sounding the alarm that Israel was becoming a country whose executive no longer felt bound by the rule of law.
    Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • The event finds more than 20,000 people participating in an annual bar crawl throughout the city while dressed in their best holiday attire, tackiest Santa Claus costumes, and ugliest Christmas swears.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Kennedy could be heard hurling swears at the Swedish team.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In March, Ben Saul, UN special rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights, condemned both US and Iranian threats to target civilian energy infrastructure.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Authorities said the inmate had been in custody since April 10, 2024, while awaiting trial on charges of robbery, criminal threats, brandishing a weapon and petty theft.
    Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • The Illinois Nurses Association strongly condemns Prime’s attempts to permanently close the unit, said Kaitlynd French, who was previously a nurse at the hospital and now works as the union’s staff representative for the nurses there.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Coventry said that while the ban on the Russian Olympic Committee and its athletes has been revoked, the IOC still condemns Russian actions in Ukraine.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • More bureaucracy — in the form of the new stand-alone Department of Gun Violence Reduction — while well-intentioned, isn’t the panacea to what plagues our city, especially as whoever is appointed head of this new department will enjoy too much independence from the mayor.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
  • Odd moment plagues fourth quarter As the Knicks held on to their fairly sizable lead, a fan ran onto the court, tried to take a selfie with Wembanyama but was quickly apprehended by security.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 4 June 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
  • Every two-bit candidate without an articulable platform argues for it and blames its absence on the incumbent.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • British maritime officials report drone and projectile strikes as Qatar blames Iran, while dueling warnings over shipping routes complicate fragile talks to reopen the strait and end the conflict.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Still, the desire to avoid a cycle of censures could prompt even the most moderate Republicans to vote against the censure.
    Emily Brooks, The Hill, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Aside from the financial cost to the city, Blain’s behavior prompted several council actions, including two censures.
    Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curses. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on curses

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster