imprecation
Wish of harm
An imprecation is a spoken curse—words calling down evil or misfortune on someone: She hurled imprecations at the man who had wronged her.
The word is formal and literary, more likely to appear in novels than conversation.
Unlike casual profanity, an imprecation specifically invokes harm or divine punishment.
Verbal invocation of harm
- hexMalevolent incantation
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- damnationEternal punishment decree
- jinxCurse bringing misfortune
bane · evil eye · doom · blight · affliction · denunciation · whammy · hoodoo
Profane emotional utterance
- swearwordTaboo spoken obscenity
- obscenityIndecent word or act
- curse wordVulgar or offensive term
- oathFormal binding promise
blasphemy · invective · epithet · vulgarism · four-letter word · cuss · blue language · foul language
Formal institutional disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- castigationSevere verbal criticism
excoriation · opprobrium · reprobation · denunciation · indictment · tirade · diatribe · harangue
Fierce, punishing anger
spite · malice · venom · bitterness · acrimony · hostility · animosity · rancor
Spoken magical formula
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
- chantRepetitive rhythmic phrase
- spellArrange letters correctly
charm · rite · sorcery · witchcraft · occult · binding · enchantment · hex sign
malediction
Verbal invocation of harm
jinx · bane · evil eye · doom · blight · affliction · denunciation · whammy · hoodoo · voodoo
expletive
Profane emotional utterance
- swearwordTaboo spoken obscenity
- obscenityIndecent word or act
- curse wordVulgar or offensive term
oath · blasphemy · invective · epithet · vulgarism · four-letter word · cuss · blue language · foul language · vituperation
censure
Formal institutional disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
castigation · excoriation · opprobrium · reprobation · denunciation · indictment · tirade · diatribe · harangue · thundering
wrath
Fierce, punishing anger
vitriol · spite · malice · venom · bitterness · acrimony · hostility · animosity · rancor · outburst
incantation
Spoken magical formula
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
- chantRepetitive rhythmic phrase
spell · charm · rite · sorcery · witchcraft · occult · binding · enchantment · hex sign
- cursescurse, curses, hex, hexes, jinx
- condemnationcondemnation, censure, rebuke, denunciation, reproach
- pleasplea, pleas, please, prayers, entreaty
- dark magicblack magic, dark magic, sorcery, witchcraft, dark arts
- Psalmspsalm, psalter, Psalm 91, psalmody, penitential psalms
- spiritual afflictionsdemonic possession, spiritual attack, spiritual darkness, spiritual death, spiritual crisis
imprecationblessing
Prayer seeking divine favor
benediction · benison · commendation · good wishes · well-wishing