What does "cursed" mean?

1. (under a magic spell) suffering from a magic spell or bad luck that causes constant trouble. 2. (unsettling or creepy) describing something that looks very strange, wrong, or creepy in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.

cursed

adj.

US //ˈkɝst// cursed

1 under a magic spell (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

suffering from a magic spell or bad luck that causes constant trouble.

afflicted by a curse or divine harm; suffering from persistent misfortune perceived as supernatural.

Example

The old legend says the diamond is cursed and brings bad luck to its owners.

Example

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.
- hexed
- jinxed
- doomed
- blessed
- lucky
2 unsettling or creepy (adj.)
C1 Advanced Informal Slang

describing something that looks very strange, wrong, or creepy in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.

describing an image, object, or situation that is unsettling, disturbing, or aesthetically 'wrong', often used with dark humor.

Example

That abandoned playground with the broken dolls has a very cursed energy.

Example

The internet is full of cursed images that combine everyday objects in ways that feel deeply unnatural and disturbing to the viewer.

Teacher's 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.
- wholesome
- pleasant

Origin

From Middle English cursed, cursd, curst, corsed, curset, cursyd, equivalent to curse + -ed.