jinx
Spell of misfortune
A jinx is a person, thing, or circumstance believed to bring bad luck: He's been a jinx on this team since he arrived.
To jinx something is to curse it or invite misfortune by speaking too confidently: Don't jinx it by saying we've already won.
The superstition runs deep enough that people genuinely avoid certain statements or behaviors for fear of jinxing outcomes.
Malevolent incantation
- curseInvoked harm through words
- spellArrange letters correctly
- whammyCurse or misfortune
- evil eyeHarm-dealing gaze, supposedly
hoodoo · voodoo · malediction · bewitchment · enchantment · incantation · conjuration · black magic
Prophetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
- signMark conveying information
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
harbinger · warning · auspice · taboo · superstition · belief · folk belief · old wives' tale
Bringer of misfortune
- albatrossLong-winged oceanic bird
- bad pennyUnwelcome thing that reappears
- bearer of bad newsMessenger of misfortune
- curseInvoked harm through words
liability · nemesis · bane · plague · pariah · bad omen · walking disaster · accident-prone
Adverse circumstance or event
- bad luckUnfavorable chance events
- unluckyProne to misfortune
- ill-fatedDestined to fail
- ill-starredFated to fail
doomed · hapless · unfortunate · star-crossed · snake eyes · broken mirror · black cat · thirteen
Invoked harm through words
- streakUnbroken series
- slumpExtended period of decline
- losing streakSeries of consecutive defeats
- no-hitterHitless complete game
shutout · commentator's curse · billy goat · championship drought · tempt fate · speak too soon · counting chickens
hex
Malevolent incantation
evil eye · hoodoo · voodoo · malediction · bewitchment · enchantment · incantation · conjuration · black magic · dark magic
omen
Prophetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
- signMark conveying information
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
premonition · harbinger · warning · auspice · taboo · superstition · belief · folk belief · old wives' tale · charm
Jonah
Bringer of misfortune
- albatrossLong-winged oceanic bird
- bad pennyUnwelcome thing that reappears
- bearer of bad newsMessenger of misfortune
curse · liability · nemesis · bane · plague · pariah · bad omen · walking disaster · accident-prone
misfortune
Adverse circumstance or event
ill-starred · doomed · hapless · unfortunate · star-crossed · snake eyes · broken mirror · black cat · thirteen · Friday the 13th
curse
Invoked harm through words
- streakUnbroken series
- slumpExtended period of decline
- losing streakSeries of consecutive defeats
no-hitter · shutout · commentator's curse · billy goat · championship drought · tempt fate · speak too soon · counting chickens
spoil
Damage or overindulge
foil · derail · sabotage · scuttle · curse · doom · hamper · hinder · obstruct · interfere
- luckgood luck, bad luck, lucky, luckily, pure luck
- cursescurse, curses, hex, hexes, damn
- evil eyeevil eye, evil eye bead, evil eye charm, hamsa, hamsa hand
- sports superstitionslucky socks, lucky jersey, rally cap, playoff beard, lucky charm
- fortunelucky, luck, fortune, fate, destiny
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
jinxblessing
Prayer seeking divine favor
good luck charm · lucky charm · talisman · charm · amulet
jinxblessing
Prayer seeking divine favor
benediction · knock on wood · touch wood · good wishes · well-wishing
- reverse jinxStating bad outcome superstitiously
- reverse jinxesNegative predictions meant to backfire