Word
cursed
/ˈkɝst/
Definitions
01under a magic spell
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. suffering from a magic spell or bad luck that causes constant trouble.
adj. afflicted by a curse or divine harm; suffering from persistent misfortune perceived as supernatural.
“The old legend says the diamond is cursed and brings bad luck to its owners.”
“Local folklore maintains that the castle is cursed, citing a long history of unexplained disappearances and financial ruin for every family that has resided there.”
02unsettling or creepy
C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang
adj. describing something that looks very strange, wrong, or creepy in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.
adj. describing an image, object, or situation that is unsettling, disturbing, or aesthetically 'wrong', often used with dark humor.
“That abandoned playground with the broken dolls has a very cursed energy.”
“The internet is full of cursed images that combine everyday objects in ways that feel deeply unnatural and disturbing to the viewer.”
Teaching tip
This sense is very common in digital culture and social media; learners should use it to describe things that are 'weirdly wrong' rather than literally magical.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The victim was his lover, and their families were enemies; he is the last of his line, and fears his family is cursed.” “His girlfriend’s in a coma, and it’s “cursed pacts with interdimensional gods” serious.” Etymology
From Middle English cursed, cursd, curst, corsed, curset, cursyd, equivalent to curse + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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