cursed

UK: /ˈkɜː^rst/, /ˈkɜː^rsɪd/

US: /ˈkɝsɪd, kɝst/

US: (kûr′sid, kûrst)

From the verb curse: (⇒ conjugate)

cursed is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

curs•ed /ˈkɜrsɪd, kɜrst/   adj. 

1. under a curse;
   damned:
   cursed for their sins.
2. deserving a curse;
   hateful;
   terrible:
   this cursed job.
3. suffering because of some circumstance:
   [be + ~ + with + object] I was cursed with a violent temper.

curs•ed•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

curs•ed  (kûr′sid, kûrst), adj. 

1. under a curse;
   damned.
2. deserving a curse;
   hateful;
   abominable.

• 1250–1300; Middle English; see curse, -ed²

curs′ed•ly, adv. 
curs′ed•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. accursed.
• 2. damnable, execrable.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cursed / ˈkɜːsɪd kɜːst/, curst adjective

1. under a curse
2. deserving to be cursed; detestable; hateful

ˈcursedly adverb

ˈcursedness noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

curse /kɜrs/   n., v., cursed or curst/kɜrst/  curs•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. the expression of a wish that misfortune happen to someone:
   The witch put a curse on the young princess.
2. a swearword, esp. one used in anger or for emphasis:
   All I got for my trouble was a shower of curses.
3. an evil, misfortune, trouble, or difficult time in one's life:
   The drought was a curse to the people of Ethiopia.
4. Slang Terms [the + ~] the menstrual period;
   menstruation.

v. 

5. to wish evil upon (someone or something):
   [~ + object] He cursed me and all I stood for.
6. to swear (at);
   say or utter swearwords (to): [no object]
   I hit my finger with the hammer and cursed silently to myself.
   [~ + at + object]
   They cursed loudly at the outfielder for dropping the easy fly ball.
   [~ + object]
   She cursed him and walked away.
7. to complain against (something) often with swearwords:
   [~ + object] I cursed the bad luck that had ever brought me to that place.

curs•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

curse  (kûrs), n., v., cursed or curst, curs•ing. 
n. 

1. the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc.
2. a formula or charm intended to cause such misfortune to another.
3. the act of reciting such a formula.
4. a profane oath;
   curse word.
5. an evil that has been invoked upon one.
6. the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.
7. something accursed.
8. Slang Terms the menstrual period;
   menstruation (usually prec. by the).
9. an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.

v.t. 

10. to wish or invoke evil, calamity, injury, or destruction upon.
11. to swear at.
12. to blaspheme.
13. to afflict with great evil.
14. to excommunicate.

v.i. 

15. to utter curses;
    swear profanely.

• Middle English curs (noun, nominal), cursen (verb, verbal), Old English curs (noun, nominal), cursian (verb, verbal), of disputed origin, originally bef. 1050

curs′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 9. imprecation, execration, fulmination, malediction.
• 5. misfortune, calamity, trouble.
• 5, 6. bane, scourge, plague, affliction, torment.
• 10. -12.
  Curse, blaspheme, swear are often interchangeable in the sense of using profane language. However,
  curse is the general word for the heartfelt invoking or angry calling down of evil on another:
  They called down curses on their enemies.
  To blaspheme is to speak contemptuously or with abuse of God or of sacred things:
  to blaspheme openly.
  To swear is to use the name of God or of some holy person or thing as an exclamation to add force or show anger:
  to swear in every sentence.
• 13. plague, scourge, afflict, doom.

Antonyms

• 1, 9. blessing, benediction.
• 10. bless.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

curse / kɜːs/ noun

1. a profane or obscene expression of anger, disgust, surprise, etc; oath
2. an appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person, group, etc
3. harm resulting from an appeal to a supernatural power
4. something that brings or causes great trouble or harm
5. the curse ⇒ menstruation or a menstrual period

verb (curses, cursing, cursed, curst)

1. (intransitive) to utter obscenities or oaths
2. (transitive) to abuse (someone) with obscenities or oaths
3. (transitive) to invoke supernatural powers to bring harm to (someone or something)
4. (transitive) to bring harm upon
5. (transitive)
   another word for excommunicate

Etymology: Old English cursian to curse, from curs a curse

ˈcurser noun