malediction
Verbally invoked damnation
A malediction is a curse—words calling down evil or misfortune on someone.
The term is formal or literary, appearing in religious contexts and fantasy fiction: The dying witch uttered a malediction against the village.
It contrasts with benediction, a blessing.
Intensely detested thing
- imprecationSpoken wish for harm
- execrationSpoken expression of hatred
- hexMalevolent incantation
- jinxCurse bringing misfortune
bane · blight · damnation · condemnation · denunciation · reprobation · excommunication · fulmination
Bitter verbal abuse
- imprecationSpoken wish for harm
- execrationSpoken expression of hatred
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
- profanityVulgar or obscene speech
oath · diatribe · tirade · harangue · polemic · vitriol · abuse · slur
Cause of destruction
- blightPlant disease causing decay
- scourgeCause of mass suffering
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
calamity · catastrophe · doom · ruin · curse · jinx · nemesis · woe
Spoken magical formula
- spellArrange letters correctly
- charmAttractive personal quality
- hexMalevolent incantation
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
invocation · evocation · summoning · enchantment · bewitchment · sorcery · witchcraft · voodoo
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- reprobationStern moral disapproval
- excoriationHarsh criticism; skin abrasion
- castigationSevere verbal criticism
opprobrium · rebuke · reproof · anathema · denunciation · damnation · reprehension · objurgation
anathema
Intensely detested thing
- imprecationSpoken wish for harm
- execrationSpoken expression of hatred
- hexMalevolent incantation
jinx · bane · blight · damnation · condemnation · denunciation · reprobation · excommunication · fulmination · pox
vituperation
Bitter verbal abuse
- imprecationSpoken wish for harm
- execrationSpoken expression of hatred
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
profanity · oath · diatribe · tirade · harangue · polemic · vitriol · abuse · slur · epithet
bane
Cause of destruction
- blightPlant disease causing decay
- scourgeCause of mass suffering
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
plague · calamity · catastrophe · doom · ruin · curse · jinx · nemesis · woe · tribulation
incantation
Spoken magical formula
conjuration · invocation · evocation · summoning · enchantment · bewitchment · sorcery · witchcraft · voodoo · necromancy
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- reprobationStern moral disapproval
- excoriationHarsh criticism; skin abrasion
castigation · opprobrium · rebuke · reproof · anathema · denunciation · damnation · reprehension · objurgation · admonition
- spellsspell, cast, conjure, curse, enchantment
- cursescurse, curses, hex, hexes, jinx
- condemnationcondemnation, censure, rebuke, denunciation, reproach
- croyancescredo, certitude, superstition, miracle, providence
- superstitionblack cat, broken mirror, Friday the 13th, walking under ladder, evil eye
- spiritual afflictionsdemonic possession, spiritual attack, spiritual darkness, spiritual death, spiritual crisis
maledictionblessing
Prayer seeking divine favor
benediction · benison · good wishes · prayer · well-wishing
maledictionpraise
Expression of approval
commendation · blessing · compliment · endorsement · indorsement