malediction
C2 (Proficient)Literary, formal, archaic
Definition
Meaning
A curse; the utterance of a wish that evil or harm befall someone.
Any form of strong condemnation, denunciation, or slander.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in formal or literary contexts. Carries a sense of ritualistic or powerful condemnation, often implying a supernatural or profound ill wish. Related to but distinct from 'malison', an archaic synonym.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling, pronunciation, or usage differences. The word is equally rare and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally literary and formal in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora, with no notable regional skew.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to utter a malediction against/upon [someone/something]to be under a maledictionto pronounce a maledictionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to hurl maledictions”
- “to be the target of maledictions”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in a metaphorical sense in literary corporate storytelling: 'The CEO's failed strategy was spoken of as a malediction on the company's fortunes.'
Academic
Rare, found in literary criticism, historical studies, or anthropology discussing rituals, folklore, or ancient texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound archaic or deliberately dramatic.
Technical
Not used in technical fields, except potentially in specialised discussions of historical religious or magical practices.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The witch maledicted the village, dooming it to seven years of poor harvests.
- He was known to maledict his opponents with terrifying vehemence.
American English
- The shaman maledicted the invaders, calling upon spirits to drive them away.
- In his rage, he maledicted the entire political system.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'maledictively' is theoretically possible but extremely rare) He spoke maledictively of his former allies.
American English
- She shook her fist maledictively at the departing car.
adjective
British English
- (Adjectival use is rare; 'maledictory' is the direct form) His speech took a maledictory turn as he condemned the traitors.
- The letter was full of maledictory phrases.
American English
- The prophet's maledictory warnings went unheeded.
- She faced him with a maledictory glare.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the old story, a malediction was placed on the prince, turning him into a beast.
- The angry king uttered a malediction against the rebel lords.
- The dying patriarch's final malediction haunted the family for generations.
- Scholars analysed the ancient tablet, which contained a malediction against grave robbers.
- Her criticism was not mere complaint but a profound malediction on their entire enterprise.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MAL' meaning bad (as in malfunction, malice) + 'DICTION' meaning speech (as in dictionary, diction). A 'malediction' is literally 'bad speech' directed at someone—a curse.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (He hurled maledictions at them). WORDS ARE WEAPONS (His malediction struck like a dagger).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'maladets' (well done).
- While Russian 'проклятие' (proklyatiye) is a direct translation, 'malediction' is far more literary than the common Russian equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'maladiction'.
- Using in casual contexts where 'curse', 'swear word', or 'condemnation' would be more natural.
- Confusing with 'benediction' (its opposite).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would the word 'malediction' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, literary, and formal word. In everyday language, 'curse' is far more common.
A 'malediction' is a type of curse, specifically one that is formally uttered or pronounced. 'Curse' is the broader, more general term. 'Malediction' sounds more archaic, ritualistic, and literary.
Yes, but the verb form 'maledict' is even rarer and more archaic than the noun. It means 'to curse' or 'to utter a malediction against'.
The direct opposite is 'benediction', which means a blessing or an utterance of good wishes.