curse

Noun

1. A supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane.
2. A prayer or imprecation that harm may befall someone.
3. The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment.
4. A vulgar epithet.
5. (dated, derogatory, slang, usually, with-definite-article) A woman's menses.

Verb

1. (transitive) To place a curse upon (a person or object).
2. To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.
3. (transitive) To speak or shout a vulgar curse or epithet.
4. (intransitive) To use offensive or morally inappropriate language.
5. To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment.

Opposite of

bless

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kɜːs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: curse

Inherited from Old English: cors

Inherited from Middle English: cursen

Inherited from Old English: corsian

In summary

From Middle English curse, kors, cors, curs, from Old English cors, curs (“curse”), of unknown origin.

Synonyms

swear

abuse

damn

malediction

cuss

imprecation

scold

insult

hex

imprecate

oath

revile

expletive

swearword

blaspheme

spell

curse word

dirty word

swear word

anathema

swearing

jinx

swear at

anathematize

execrate

incantation

execration

blame

put a curse on

scourge

blasphemy

torment

profanity

plague

maledict

slander

invective

reprove

bewitch

swear-word

rebuke

vilification

condemnation

condemn

affront

anathemize

bane

shout

grumble

accuse