Malediction
noun /ˌmalɪˈdɪkʃ(ə)n/ — A curse; calling down harm on someone through words.
Definition
A magical formula intended to cause harm to someone; a curse — an invocation of evil upon a person, often believed to have real effect through the power of the spoken or written word.
Beyond the definition
Malediction is the language of the extreme — the utterance when there is no other recourse. Across cultures, the belief that words can cause harm has produced elaborate systems of cursing. The power of the malediction depends on the power attributed to language itself.
Origin & history
From Latin maledictio (evil-speaking), from male (badly) + dicere (to speak). The opposite of benediction (blessing) — the bad word rather than the good word, the curse rather than the blessing.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The tablet contained a malediction scratched in Latin — a formal curse on whoever had stolen his goods.
He delivered the malediction with a cold precision that was more unsettling than rage would have been.
In many cultures, the formal malediction was a legal act — outlawing someone through the power of words.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Malediction” when the meaning fits your context: A magical formula intended to cause harm to someone; a curse — an invocation of evil upon a person, often believed to have real effect through the power of the spoken or written word.
Synonyms
curse, imprecation, hex, jinx
Antonyms
benediction, blessing, prayer
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Hostile Disagreement at Table
Two adults engage in a heated, verbal disagreement, one making pointed gestures while the other raises a hand.
The intense, pointed gestures and the hostile atmosphere are an analogy for a malediction. While not a literal curse, the verbal hostility is used with the power and intent to cause harm to the other person's standing, similar to a spoken invocation of evil.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Malediction" mean?
Malediction is noun meaning: A curse; calling down harm on someone through words.. A magical formula intended to cause harm to someone; a curse — an invocation of evil upon a person, often believed to have real effect through the power of the spoken or written word.
Where does the word "Malediction" come from?
From Latin maledictio (evil-speaking), from male (badly) + dicere (to speak). The opposite of benediction (blessing) — the bad word rather than the good word, the curse rather than the blessing.