Standard Lemma guide

malediction

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌmæl.əˈdɪk.ʃən/
  • /-.ɪˈ-/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪkʃən

1

noun

Meaning 1

A curse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: benediction

2

noun

Meaning 2

Evil speech.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he suffered the imprecations of the mob

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: imprecation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: execration, condemnation, curse

History

Etymology

From late Middle English malediccion, from Middle French malédiction, from Latin maledictiō (“curse”) from malus (“evil”) + dictiō (“speech”) noun of action from perfect passive participle dictus (“spoken”), from verb dīcō (“speak”).

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: malédiction — evil speech
  • Hebrew: לשון הרע (lashon hara) — evil speech
  • Latin: maledictiō — evil speech
  • Russian: ру́гань (rúganʹ) — evil speech
  • Russian: злосло́вие (zloslóvije) — evil speech
  • Russian: скверносло́вие (skvernoslóvije) — evil speech
  • Russian: поноше́ние (defamation) — evil speech
  • Serbo-Croatian: проклетство — evil speech
  • Serbo-Croatian: prokletstvo — evil speech
  • Spanish: maldición — evil speech