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Curse synonyms

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profanity
The state or quality of being profane
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  1. The state or quality of being profane
  2. (Countable) Obscene, lewd or abusive language.
  3. Something profane; esp., profane language or the use of profane language
imprecation
The act of imprecating.
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  1. The act of imprecating.
  2. A curse.
  3. The act of imprecating evil, etc. on someone
ban
A prohibition imposed by law or official decree.
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  1. A prohibition imposed by law or official decree.
  2. Strong public disapproval or condemnation intended to prevent something
  3. An official order forbidding something; prohibition
ban
To prohibit (an action) or forbid the use of (something), especially by official decree:
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  1. To prohibit (an action) or forbid the use of (something), especially by official decree:
  2. (South African) Under the former system of apartheid, to deprive (a person suspected of illegal activity) of the right of free movement and association with others.
  3. To prohibit, as by official order, from doing, using, appearing, happening, etc.; forbid; censor
oath
An irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or something held sacred.
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  1. An irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or something held sacred.
  2. The words or formula of such a declaration or promise.
  3. A solemn swearing to the truth of statements delivered orally and/or in written form. Making of false statements while under oath may result in prosecution for perjury. An affidavit is a written oath. See also affirmation. A solemn swearing to the truth of statements delivered orally and/or in written form. Making of false statements while under oath may result in prosecution for perjury. An affidavit is a written oath. See also affirmation.
blasphemy
Irreverent or impious action or expression in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
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  1. Irreverent or impious action or expression in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
  2. Any remark or action held to be irreverent or disrespectful
  3. Contemptuous or profane speech or action concerning God or a sacred entity.
expletive
A word or phrase that does not contribute any meaning but is added only to fill out a sentence or a metrical line.
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  1. A word or phrase that does not contribute any meaning but is added only to fill out a sentence or a metrical line.
  2. A word, phrase, etc. not needed for the sense but used merely to fill out a sentence or metrical line, for grammar, rhythm, balance, etc.
  3. An oath or exclamation, esp. an obscenity
obscenity
Indecency, lewdness, or offensiveness in behavior, expression, or appearance.
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  1. Indecency, lewdness, or offensiveness in behavior, expression, or appearance.
  2. Something, such as a word, act, or expression, that is indecent or lewd.
  3. An obscene remark, act, event, etc.
vulgarity
The state or quality of being vulgar, crude, coarse, unrefined, etc.
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  1. The state or quality of being vulgar, crude, coarse, unrefined, etc.
  2. Something, such as an act or expression, that offends good taste or propriety.
  3. A vulgar act, habit, usage in speech, etc.
sacrilege
Desecration, profanation, misuse, or theft of something regarded as sacred.
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  1. Desecration, profanation, misuse, or theft of something regarded as sacred.
  2. The act of appropriating to oneself or to secular use, or of violating, what is consecrated to God or religion
  3. The intentional desecration or disrespectful treatment of a person, place, thing, or idea held sacred
profanation
A profaning or being profaned; desecration; defilement
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  1. A profaning or being profaned; desecration; defilement
  2. The act or an instance of profaning; desecration.
execration
A person or thing cursed or detested
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  1. A person or thing cursed or detested
  2. A curse.
  3. The act of execrating; a cursing, denouncing, etc.
anathema
One that is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned:
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  1. One that is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned:
  2. A vehement denunciation; a curse:
  3. A formal ecclesiastical ban, curse, or excommunication.
hex
An evil spell; a curse.
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  1. An evil spell; a curse.
  2. One that brings bad luck.
  3. A sign, spell, etc. believed to bring bad luck
jinx
A spell or period of bad luck
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  1. A spell or period of bad luck
  2. A condition or period of bad luck that appears to have been caused by a specific person or thing.
evil eye
The presumed power to cause injury or misfortune to others by magic or supernatural means.
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  1. The presumed power to cause injury or misfortune to others by magic or supernatural means.
  2. A look believed by some to be able to harm or bewitch the one stared at
  3. The power to cast such a look
fulmination
That which is fulminated or thundered forth; vehement menace or censure.
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  1. That which is fulminated or thundered forth; vehement menace or censure.
  2. The act of thundering forth threats or censures, as with authority.
cursing
The act of one who curses.
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  1. The act of one who curses.
swearing
The act of swearing, or making an oath.
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  1. The act of swearing, or making an oath.
denunciation
The act of denouncing
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  1. The act of denouncing
  2. The act or an instance of denouncing, especially a public condemnation or censure.
  3. The reporting of a person to the authorities for possible criminal prosecution.
commination
A formal denunciation.
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  1. A formal denunciation.
  2. A threat or denunciation
obloquy
Ill repute, disgrace, or infamy resulting from this
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  1. Ill repute, disgrace, or infamy resulting from this
  2. The condition of disgrace suffered as a result of abuse or vilification; ill repute.
  3. Abusive language; blame; disgrace or cause to be in ill repute; calumny. Obloquy may go to the extent where it constitutes defamation. See also defamation and slander. Abusive language; blame; disgrace or cause to be in ill repute; calumny. Obloquy may go to the extent where it constitutes defamation. See also defamation and slander.
swearword
A word or phrase used in swearing or cursing; profane or obscene word or phrase
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  1. A word or phrase used in swearing or cursing; profane or obscene word or phrase
  2. Alternative spelling of swear word.
dirty-word
A word, expression, or concept viewed as odious or intolerable:
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  1. A word, expression, or concept viewed as odious or intolerable:
  2. Any word or phrase considered unpleasant or offensive in a specific place or context
cuss-word
(Slang) Curse word or phrase.
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  1. (Slang) Curse word or phrase.
four-letter-word
Any of several short English words generally regarded as vulgar or obscene.
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  1. Any of several short English words generally regarded as vulgar or obscene.
bane
(Archaic) Fatal injury or ruin:
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  1. (Archaic) Fatal injury or ruin:
  2. A cause of harm, ruin, or death:
  3. A source of persistent annoyance or exasperation:
evil
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction:
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  1. That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction:
  2. An evil force, power, or personification.
  3. The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
affliction
Anything causing pain or distress; calamity
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  1. Anything causing pain or distress; calamity
  2. An afflicted condition; pain; suffering
scourge
A source of widespread dreadful affliction and devastation such as that caused by pestilence or war.
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  1. A source of widespread dreadful affliction and devastation such as that caused by pestilence or war.
  2. A whip or other instrument for flogging
  3. A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment.
swear
To declare solemnly in the name of God or of something held sacred
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  1. To declare solemnly in the name of God or of something held sacred
  2. To promise or pledge with a solemn oath; vow:
  3. (Law) To administer a legal oath to:
blaspheme
To utter blasphemy
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  1. To utter blasphemy
  2. To speak blasphemy.
  3. To speak irreverently or profanely of or to (God or sacred things)
profane
To treat with irreverence:
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  1. To treat with irreverence:
  2. To put to an improper, unworthy, or degrading use; abuse.
  3. To treat (sacred things) with irreverence or contempt; desecrate
turn-the-air-blue
(Idiomatic) To speak a stream of bad language; to curse and swear.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To speak a stream of bad language; to curse and swear.
swear-like-a-trooper
(Simile) To swear a lot; to utter many swear words.
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  1. (Simile) To swear a lot; to utter many swear words.
cuss
To curse or curse at.
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  1. To curse or curse at.
  2. To curse; swear (at)
execrate
To call down evil upon; curse
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  1. To call down evil upon; curse
  2. To speak abusively or contemptuously of; denounce scathingly
  3. To feel loathing for; abhor.
imprecate
(Rare) To invoke (evil) upon (someone); curse
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  1. (Rare) To invoke (evil) upon (someone); curse
damn
To bring about the failure of; ruin:
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  1. To bring about the failure of; ruin:
  2. To swear or curse; say “damn,” etc.
  3. To swear at by saying “damn”
vituperate
To rebuke or criticize harshly or angrily; berate.
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  1. To rebuke or criticize harshly or angrily; berate.
  2. To speak abusively to or about; berate; revile
  3. To use harshly critical or irate language; rail.
abuse
To hurt by treating badly; mistreat
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  1. To hurt by treating badly; mistreat
  2. To force sexual activity on; rape or molest.
  3. To use improperly or excessively; misuse:
revile
To assail with scornful or abusive language; vituperate.
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  1. To assail with scornful or abusive language; vituperate.
  2. To use abusive or contemptuous language in speaking to or about; call bad names
insult
To treat with gross insensitivity, insolence, or contemptuous rudeness.
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  1. To treat with gross insensitivity, insolence, or contemptuous rudeness.
  2. To affront or demean:
  3. To treat or speak to with scorn, insolence, or great disrespect; subject to treatment, a remark, etc. that hurts or is meant to hurt the feelings or pride
anathematize
To proclaim an anathema on; curse.
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  1. To proclaim an anathema on; curse.
  2. To utter an anathema (against); curse
  3. To cause to be, or to declare as, an anathema or evil.
maledict
To berate
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  1. To berate
  2. To pronounce a curse against.
blast
To cause to shrivel, wither, or mature imperfectly by blast or blight:
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  1. To cause to shrivel, wither, or mature imperfectly by blast or blight:
  2. To suffer or wither from a blight
  3. To use or detonate explosives.
doom
To destine to a tragic fate
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  1. To destine to a tragic fate
  2. To pronounce judgment on; condemn; sentence
  3. To cause to come to an inevitable bad end; destine to end badly:
blaspheme
To curse or revile
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  1. To curse or revile
  2. To speak blasphemy.
  3. To speak irreverently or profanely of or to (God or sacred things)
denounce
(Obs.) To announce, esp. in a menacing way
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  1. (Obs.) To announce, esp. in a menacing way
  2. To accuse publicly; inform against
  3. To give formal notice of the ending of (a treaty, armistice, etc.)
vilify
To attack the reputation of (a person or thing) with strong or abusive criticism.
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  1. To attack the reputation of (a person or thing) with strong or abusive criticism.
  2. To use abusive or slanderous language about or of; calumniate; revile; defame
blight
Any of numerous plant diseases that cause leaves, stems, fruits, and tissues to wither and die. Rust, mildew, and smut are blights.
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  1. Any of numerous plant diseases that cause leaves, stems, fruits, and tissues to wither and die. Rust, mildew, and smut are blights.
  2. To suffer blight
  3. To cause (a plant, for example) to undergo blight.
call-names
(Intransitive) To insult somebody childishly; to engage in name-calling.
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  1. (Intransitive) To insult somebody childishly; to engage in name-calling.
anathematize
To utter an anathema (against); curse
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  1. To utter an anathema (against); curse
  2. To proclaim an anathema on; curse.
  3. To cause to be, or to declare as, an anathema or evil.
anathema
A solemn ecclesiastical condemnation of a teaching judged to be gravely opposed to accepted church doctrine, or of the originators or supporters of such a teaching
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  1. A solemn ecclesiastical condemnation of a teaching judged to be gravely opposed to accepted church doctrine, or of the originators or supporters of such a teaching
  2. A thing or person greatly detested
  3. A vehement denunciation; a curse:
damnation
Failure or ruination incurred by adverse criticism.
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  1. Failure or ruination incurred by adverse criticism.
  2. The act of damning or the condition of being damned.
  3. Condemnation to everlasting punishment; doom.
execration
The act of execrating; a cursing, denouncing, etc.
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  1. The act of execrating; a cursing, denouncing, etc.
  2. A person or thing cursed or detested
  3. A curse.
imprecation
The act of imprecating.
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  1. The act of imprecating.
  2. The act of imprecating evil, etc. on someone
  3. A curse.
malediction
A calling down of evil on someone; curse
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  1. A calling down of evil on someone; curse
  2. The calling down of a curse.
  3. A curse.
hex
A sign, spell, etc. believed to bring bad luck
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  1. A sign, spell, etc. believed to bring bad luck
  2. One that brings bad luck.
  3. A jinx
hoodoo
(Geology) A column of eccentrically shaped rock, produced by differential weathering.
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  1. (Geology) A column of eccentrically shaped rock, produced by differential weathering.
  2. One that brings bad luck.
  3. A natural rock formation of fantastic shape, esp. as found in the W U.S.
jinx
A spell or period of bad luck
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  1. A spell or period of bad luck
  2. A condition or period of bad luck that appears to have been caused by a specific person or thing.
affliction
Anything causing pain or distress; calamity
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  1. Anything causing pain or distress; calamity
  2. An afflicted condition; pain; suffering
bane
(Archaic) Fatal injury or ruin:
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  1. (Archaic) Fatal injury or ruin:
  2. A source of persistent annoyance or exasperation:
  3. A cause of harm, ruin, or death:
evil
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction:
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  1. That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction:
  2. The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
  3. An evil force, power, or personification.
ill
Something that causes suffering; trouble:
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  1. Something that causes suffering; trouble:
  2. Evil or misfortune
  3. Evil, wrongdoing, or harm:
plague
A highly infectious, usually fatal, epidemic disease; a pestilence.
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  1. A highly infectious, usually fatal, epidemic disease; a pestilence.
  2. A highly infectious epidemic disease, especially one with a high rate of fatality; a pestilence.
  3. An often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted to humans usually by fleas that have bitten infected rats or other rodents. &diamf3; Bubonic plague , the most common type, is characterized by the tender, swollen lymph nodes called buboes, fever, clotting abnormalities of the blood, and tissue necrosis. An epidemic of bubonic plague in fourteenth-century Europe and Asia was known as the Black Death.
scourge
A source of widespread dreadful affliction and devastation such as that caused by pestilence or war.
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  1. A source of widespread dreadful affliction and devastation such as that caused by pestilence or war.
  2. A small whip used to inflict punishment.
  3. A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment.
woe
A cause of sorrow or misery; a misfortune:
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  1. A cause of sorrow or misery; a misfortune:
  2. Sorrow or grief; misery.
  3. A cause of sorrow; affliction; trouble
blasphemy
Irreverent or impious action or expression in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
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  1. Irreverent or impious action or expression in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
  2. Any remark or action held to be irreverent or disrespectful
  3. Contemptuous or profane speech or action concerning God or a sacred entity.
epithet
A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person, such as The Great Emancipator for Abraham Lincoln.
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  1. A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person, such as The Great Emancipator for Abraham Lincoln.
  2. (Biology) A word in the scientific name of an organism following the name of the genus and denoting a species, subspecies, variety, or cultivar, as sativa in Lactuca sativa.
  3. A descriptive name or title (Ex.: Philip the Fair, America the Beautiful)
expletive
(--- Linguistics) A word or other grammatical element that has no meaning but is needed to fill a syntactic position, such as the words it and there in the sentences It's raining and There are many books on the table.
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  1. (--- Linguistics) A word or other grammatical element that has no meaning but is needed to fill a syntactic position, such as the words it and there in the sentences It's raining and There are many books on the table.
  2. A word or phrase that does not contribute any meaning but is added only to fill out a sentence or a metrical line.
  3. An oath or exclamation, esp. an obscenity
oath
The words or formula of such a declaration or promise.
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  1. The words or formula of such a declaration or promise.
  2. An irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or something held sacred.
  3. A solemn swearing to the truth of statements delivered orally and/or in written form. Making of false statements while under oath may result in prosecution for perjury. An affidavit is a written oath. See also affirmation. A solemn swearing to the truth of statements delivered orally and/or in written form. Making of false statements while under oath may result in prosecution for perjury. An affidavit is a written oath. See also affirmation.
swearword
A word or phrase used in swearing or cursing; profane or obscene word or phrase
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  1. A word or phrase used in swearing or cursing; profane or obscene word or phrase
  2. Alternative spelling of swear word.
cuss
A curse.
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  1. A curse.
  2. A person, esp. one regarded as bad-tempered, annoying, etc.
  3. A stubborn or annoying person or animal.
anathematize
To cause to be, or to declare as, an anathema or evil.
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  1. To cause to be, or to declare as, an anathema or evil.
  2. To utter an anathema (against); curse
  3. To proclaim an anathema on; curse.
damn
To condemn as bad or inferior
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  1. To condemn as bad or inferior
  2. To swear or curse; say “damn,” etc.
  3. To swear at by saying “damn”
imprecate
(Rare) To invoke (evil) upon (someone); curse
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  1. (Rare) To invoke (evil) upon (someone); curse
cuss
To curse or curse at.
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  1. To curse or curse at.
  2. To curse; swear (at)
execrate
To call down evil upon; curse
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  1. To call down evil upon; curse
  2. To speak abusively or contemptuously of; denounce scathingly
  3. To feel loathing for; abhor.
maledict
To berate
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  1. To berate
  2. To pronounce a curse against.
hex
To bring or wish bad luck to:
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  1. To bring or wish bad luck to:
  2. To put a hex on.
hoodoo
(Slang) To cast a spell on or otherwise bring bad luck to
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  1. (Slang) To cast a spell on or otherwise bring bad luck to
  2. To practice hoodoo on; affect with a charm or curse.
jinx
To bring bad luck to.
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  1. To bring bad luck to.
afflict
(Obs.) To overthrow
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  1. (Obs.) To overthrow
  2. To cause grievous physical or mental suffering to.
  3. To cause pain or suffering to; distress very much
agonize
To suffer extreme pain:
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  1. To suffer extreme pain:
  2. To suffer mental anguish or worry about something:
  3. To be in agony or great pain; feel anguish
anguish
To cause to feel or suffer anguish.
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  1. To cause to feel or suffer anguish.
excruciate
To inflict great mental distress on.
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  1. To inflict great mental distress on.
  2. To subject to mental anguish; torment
  3. To cause intense bodily pain to; torture
plague
To be a widespread or continuous problem or defect in:
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  1. To be a widespread or continuous problem or defect in:
  2. An often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted to humans usually by fleas that have bitten infected rats or other rodents. &diamf3; Bubonic plague , the most common type, is characterized by the tender, swollen lymph nodes called buboes, fever, clotting abnormalities of the blood, and tissue necrosis. An epidemic of bubonic plague in fourteenth-century Europe and Asia was known as the Black Death.
  3. To afflict with a plague
rack
To cause great physical or mental suffering to:
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  1. To cause great physical or mental suffering to:
  2. To arrange in or on a rack
  3. To torture on a rack
scourge
To punish, chastise, or afflict severely
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  1. To punish, chastise, or afflict severely
  2. To whip or flog
  3. To afflict with severe or widespread suffering and devastation; ravage.
smite
To deal a blow with or as if with the hand or a handheld weapon.
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  1. To deal a blow with or as if with the hand or a handheld weapon.
  2. To inspire strong and sudden love or devotion
  3. To strike or attack with powerful or disastrous effect
strike
To cause to become suddenly in a certain way:
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  1. To cause to become suddenly in a certain way:
  2. To dismantle and pack up for departure:
  3. To engage in a strike against an employer.
torment
(Rare) To torture
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  1. (Rare) To torture
  2. To annoy, pester, or harass:
  3. To cause to undergo great physical pain or mental anguish.
torture
To subject to torture
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  1. To subject to torture
  2. To bring great physical or mental pain upon (another).
  3. To subject (a person or animal) to torture.
blaspheme
To curse or revile
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  1. To curse or revile
  2. To speak blasphemy.
  3. To speak irreverently or profanely of or to (God or sacred things)
damn
To swear or curse; say “damn,” etc.
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  1. To swear or curse; say “damn,” etc.
  2. To swear; curse.
  3. To swear at by saying “damn”
swear
(Law) To give evidence under oath
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  1. (Law) To give evidence under oath
  2. To declare solemnly in the name of God or of something held sacred
  3. To declare or affirm solemnly by invoking a deity or a sacred person or thing:
cuss
To curse or curse at.
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  1. To curse or curse at.
  2. To curse; swear (at)

Synonym Study

  • Anathematize strictly refers to the formal utterance of solemn condemnation by ecclesiastical authority, but in general use suggests vehement denunciation of a person or thing viewed as detestable
  • Imprecate suggests the calling down of calamity on someone, esp. from a desire for revenge
  • Execrate suggests cursing prompted by great anger or abhorrence
  • Damn carries the same general meaning but, in strict usage, implies the use of the word ``damn"" in the curse he damned his enemies = he said, ``Damn my enemies!""
  • Curse is the general word for calling down evil or injury on someone or something
Find another word for curse. In this page you can discover 141 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for curse, like: profanity, imprecation, ban, ban, oath, blasphemy, expletive, obscenity, vulgarity, sacrilege and profanation.

Sentence Examples

  • She didn't look back, but his muffled curse chased after her.

  • His face mottled with anger, he released her with a curse and paced.

  • And yet the curse he'd feared was broken!

  • Her curse was lost as she was sucked into the shadow world.

  • A curse on the lot of them, especially the state of Texas where the roads never end.

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Words that mention curse in the Dictionary

Words near curse in the Thesaurus