hex

This word carries a heavy association with folk magic, witchcraft, and superstition. It evokes an image of secret rituals or spoken incantations designed to manipulate fate for a negative outcome. While similar to curse, a hex often feels more specific and intentional, like a targeted strike of misfortune. In modern slang, it is occasionally used to describe a streak of bad luck that feels supernatural or inexplicable. It is rarely used in formal academic writing, appearing instead in fantasy literature, historical accounts of occultism, or casual conversations about mysticism.