had been cursed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been cursed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has been subjected to a curse in the past and is still affected by it. Example: "The village had been cursed for generations, leading to a series of unfortunate events that plagued its inhabitants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Infertility made me feel as if I had been cursed.

The New York Times

Mahabouba smelled foul, and villagers thought she had been cursed by God.

The New York Times

Now its cobbled streets look as if they had been cursed.

The Economist

Aged 37, I felt as if I had been cursed with a death sentence.

The Telegraph

When her brother married a Cuban, her mother said she had been cursed by the Caribbean.

The New York Times

One of the teams in the inaugural "world championship" of Southern Sudanese wrestling refused to take the field, complaining that its end had been cursed.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

I've been cursed.

The New York Times

All have been cursed with disastrous political leadership.

The New Yorker

But you have been cursed with such outrageously bad health.

The Guardian

Venezuela is a country that has been cursed with oil.

The New York Times

"But since then, the club has been cursed.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been cursed" to describe a past action that continues to have negative consequences in the present. It implies a state of ongoing misfortune resulting from a curse.

Common error

Avoid using "had been cursed" when referring to temporary setbacks or isolated incidents. This phrase is most appropriate when describing a persistent and pervasive negative influence or condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been cursed" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that a subject was the recipient of a curse at some point in the past, and the effects of that curse persist into a later time. This grammatical structure is supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been cursed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression indicating a state of prolonged misfortune resulting from a curse placed in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a past perfect passive construction and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While semantically similar phrases such as "was under a curse" or "was doomed" can be used as alternatives, "had been cursed" specifically emphasizes the enduring impact of the curse. When using this phrase, ensure that the context involves a persistent negative influence rather than a temporary setback.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was under a curse

Simplifies the phrase while maintaining the core meaning.

was afflicted with a curse

Replaces "had been cursed" with a more active voice, emphasizing the affliction.

suffered a curse

Focuses on the act of suffering the curse.

bore a curse

Suggests a long-term or inherent curse.

was doomed

Conveys a sense of inevitable misfortune, similar to being cursed.

was ill-fated

Implies a predetermined destiny of bad luck.

was hexed

Uses a more informal term for being cursed.

was jinxed

Similar to "hexed", but slightly more colloquial.

had a hex placed upon them

Emphasizes the action of placing a curse.

labored under a malediction

Uses more formal and literary language.

FAQs

How can I use "had been cursed" in a sentence?

You can use "had been cursed" to describe a person, place, or object that has been subjected to a curse in the past and continues to suffer from its effects. For example, "The ancient tomb "had been cursed" by the pharaoh, bringing misfortune to anyone who disturbed it".

What's the difference between "had been cursed" and "was cursed"?

"Was cursed" typically refers to a single instance of being cursed at a specific point in time, whereas ""had been cursed"" suggests a curse that was placed in the past and continues to have ongoing effects.

What are some alternative phrases for "had been cursed"?

Some alternative phrases include "was under a curse", "suffered a curse", or "was doomed", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "had been cursed" in formal writing?

While ""had been cursed"" is grammatically correct, consider the tone and audience of your writing. In some formal contexts, more neutral or descriptive language might be preferable. For example, you could say "experienced a period of misfortune".