curse 1 of 2

noun

ˈkərs How to pronounce curse (audio)
Definition of cursenext
1
as in condemnation
a prayer that harm will come to someone uttered a curse upon his persecutor from the scaffold

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2
as in swear
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression started muttering curses after hitting his thumb with the hammer

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3
as in bane
a source of harm or misfortune intolerance of personal differences is a curse of humanity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

curse

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to imprecate
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

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2
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to misfortunes and problems seem to have cursed everyone ever associated with that house

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to swear
to use offensive or indecent language you'll have to put a quarter in the jar every time you curse

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4
as in to blame
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

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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 curse
Noun
Brazil’s European curse at the World Cup continues thanks to Norway’s biggest star. — Andy Clayton, New York Daily News, 5 July 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
Verb
The sport permeates this delicately whimsical tale about would-be lovers cursed to not recognize each other. — Carlos Aguilar, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026 Anguished and alone, Nick is similarly cast away, seemingly cursed to spend the rest of his days forsaken in his hometown, now a foreign land. — Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for curse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curse
  1. condemnation
  2. swear
  3. bane
  4. condemn
  5. plague
  6. blame
  7. censure
  8. language
Noun
  • Following an inspection in March, the city issued a formal notice of condemnation and order to vacate, as only about 17% of the rooms inspected passed.
    — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • The admission drew immediate condemnation from Democratic lawmakers.
    — Ana Ceballos Follow, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of condemnation
Noun
  • Why fill with swears a show that might otherwise have been appointment viewing for the whole family?
    — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of swear
Noun
  • Now, decades later, weekday lunches have become the bane of my existence.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
  • Thankfully, the in-room fax machines that were the bane of Bob Harris’ existence are long gone, too.
    — Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Definition of bane
Verb
  • Eight of the primary winners who condemned the Gaza conflict were backed by American Priorities, a new pro-Palestinian super PAC supporting candidates who have been critical of Israel’s military actions.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
  • Lot is often described in the Qurʾān, and in subsequent interpretive traditions, in the role of condemning the men of Sodom for lusting after men rather than women.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Definition of condemn
Verb
  • Andrew Harnik | Getty Images A rocky start The anniversary rollout has also been plagued by problems on the ground.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • In the 30 years following the tune’s release, disappointment has only continued to plague the Three Lions.
    — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • Autopsies and other investigations will be needed before the deaths are officially blamed on the heat, Washington said.
    — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Most of the others have been blamed on natural causes or suicide.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 6 July 2026
Definition of blame
Noun
  • After passing the Resolutions Committee of the South Dakota GOP, the censure was overwhelmingly voted down, with opponents saying the measure would only help Democrats.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 26 June 2026
  • The House’s periodic descent into politically motivated censure votes, however, could propel them to make a change next year.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 June 2026
Definition of censure
Noun
  • In a world order in rupture, international law remains the one language power still has to answer to.
    — Alain Berset, Time, 6 July 2026
  • Although it is celebrated primarily in Latin, Lauer said the language is only part of its appeal.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
Definition of language

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Cite this Entry

“Curse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curse. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on curse

Nglish: Translation of curse for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curse

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