cursed 🔊
Meaning of cursed
To be under a spell or supernatural affliction that brings harm, misfortune, or evil.
Key Difference
Unlike similar words like 'hexed' or 'jinxed,' 'cursed' often implies a more severe or long-lasting supernatural condemnation.
Example of cursed
- The ancient tomb was said to be cursed, bringing doom to anyone who entered.
- She felt as if her family was cursed after generations of misfortune.
Synonyms
hexed 🔊
Meaning of hexed
Affected by a spell intended to cause harm or bad luck.
Key Difference
A 'hex' is often seen as less severe than a 'curse' and may be temporary.
Example of hexed
- The villagers believed the crops failed because the field was hexed.
- He joked that his bad luck meant he must be hexed.
jinxed 🔊
Meaning of jinxed
Subject to a streak of bad luck, often humorously or superstitiously.
Key Difference
A 'jinx' is usually less serious and sometimes used playfully, unlike a 'curse.'
Example of jinxed
- The team thought they were jinxed after losing five games in a row.
- She laughed and said their picnic was jinxed when it rained again.
doomed 🔊
Meaning of doomed
Destined for an inevitable misfortune or destruction.
Key Difference
'Doomed' doesn’t always imply supernatural causes, unlike 'cursed.'
Example of doomed
- The expedition was doomed from the start due to poor planning.
- He felt doomed to repeat his father's mistakes.
damned 🔊
Meaning of damned
Condemned to eternal punishment, often in a religious context.
Key Difference
'Damned' is more associated with divine judgment, while 'cursed' can be secular or supernatural.
Example of damned
- The preacher warned that sinners would be damned for eternity.
- The old legend spoke of a damned soul haunting the castle.
blighted 🔊
Meaning of blighted
Suffering from conditions that destroy or prevent growth.
Key Difference
'Blighted' often refers to physical or environmental ruin, not supernatural forces.
Example of blighted
- The blighted land could no longer sustain crops.
- His career was blighted by scandal.
bedeviled 🔊
Meaning of bedeviled
Tormented or harassed persistently.
Key Difference
'Bedeviled' suggests ongoing trouble but not necessarily a supernatural origin.
Example of bedeviled
- The project was bedeviled by constant delays.
- She felt bedeviled by self-doubt.
bewitched 🔊
Meaning of bewitched
Under the influence of magic, often charming or enchanting.
Key Difference
'Bewitched' can imply enchantment without malice, unlike 'cursed.'
Example of bewitched
- The prince was bewitched by the sorceress's spell.
- The garden looked as if it were bewitched by moonlight.
accursed 🔊
Meaning of accursed
Deserving of or under a curse; utterly wretched.
Key Difference
'Accursed' is a stronger, more archaic form of 'cursed,' often used in literary contexts.
Example of accursed
- The accursed treasure brought ruin to all who sought it.
- He wandered the earth like an accursed soul.
ill-fated 🔊
Meaning of ill-fated
Destined to fail or end badly.
Key Difference
'Ill-fated' refers to misfortune without implying a supernatural cause.
Example of ill-fated
- The ill-fated voyage ended in disaster.
- Their love was ill-fated from the beginning.
Conclusion
- The word 'cursed' carries a heavy supernatural connotation, often implying long-lasting or severe misfortune brought by a malevolent force.
- 'Hexed' is best used for minor or temporary supernatural misfortunes, often in folkloric contexts.
- 'Jinxed' fits casual or superstitious references to bad luck, sometimes humorously.
- 'Doomed' is ideal for situations where failure seems inevitable, regardless of supernatural causes.
- 'Damned' should be reserved for religious or moral condemnation, often implying eternal consequences.
- 'Blighted' works well for describing ruin or decay, especially in physical or environmental contexts.
- 'Bedeviled' is perfect for persistent troubles, whether personal or situational.
- 'Bewitched' implies magical influence, often charming rather than harmful.
- 'Accursed' is a dramatic, literary alternative to 'cursed,' emphasizing wretchedness.
- 'Ill-fated' describes inevitable misfortune without supernatural overtones.