VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

cursed

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈkɜːsɪd/
US/ˈkɜːrsɪd/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Believed to be under a magic spell that brings bad luck or harm.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: a cursed object, a cursed family. Not usually after a verb.

    Patterns

    • a cursed object
    • a cursed place
    • be cursed by someone

    The villagers believed the old house was cursed.

    He said the ring was cursed and refused to wear it.

    The play is said to be cursed because so many actors have been injured.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Suffering from persistent bad luck or misfortune.

    Grammar: Used before a noun to describe someone or something that always has bad luck.

    Patterns

    • a cursed life
    • be cursed with something

    She felt like a cursed person, always losing her keys and missing buses.

    The team seemed cursed after losing every game this season.

  3. adjectivebefore a nounhumorousinformal

    Used humorously to describe something annoying or troublesome.

    Grammar: Often used before a noun in informal speech to show mild frustration.

    Patterns

    • this cursed thing
    • that cursed noise

    I can't get this cursed printer to work.

    That cursed alarm clock went off at the wrong time again.

Word forms

comparativemore cursed
superlativemost cursed

Common combinations

cursed object
The museum returned the cursed object to its original site.
cursed with
He is cursed with a terrible memory for names.
feel cursed
After three flat tires, I felt cursed.
cursed family
The novel tells the story of a cursed family over generations.

Synonyms and how they differ

damned
Stronger and more religious in tone; often used in set phrases like 'damned soul'.
jinxed
More informal and suggests bad luck caused by a specific person or thing.
hexed
Specifically means affected by a witch's spell; less common in everyday speech.

Opposites

blessedlucky

Word family

curse noun
A magic spell or a wish for bad luck.
curse verb
To put a curse on someone or to swear.
cursing noun
The act of swearing or putting a curse.

Commonly confused: cursed or curst?

cursed vs curst

An archaic spelling of 'cursed'; not used in modern English.

Practice

Choose the correct sentence:

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “cursed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words