verb

cuss

kuhs

Cuss (verb) means Informal: to swear or use bad language. Example: “He cussed loudly after hitting his thumb with the hammer.”

verb

Informal: to swear or use bad language.

"He cussed loudly after hitting his thumb with the hammer."

noun

Informal: a swear word, or (old-fashioned) a fellow or character.

"He's a tough old cuss but means well."

How to use cuss

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA casual way of saying "curse" or "swear," also used to mean a person ("an odd cuss").

When to use it

Informal and mainly American; not used in formal writing.

Word forms

cussed past tense, cusses plural, cusses plural, cusses singular

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He _____ loudly after hitting his thumb with the hammer.

Etymology

An American English variant pronunciation of curse.

Synonyms

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fellow swear curse oath lad chap pest swearing bloke fella gent feller

Related words

man person guy son member boy bank heavy

Rhymes for cuss

fuss suss puss muss wuss Russ truss

See all rhymes for cuss →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cuss” mean?

The word “cuss” means informal: to swear or use bad language. In plain terms, a casual way of saying "curse" or "swear," also used to mean a person ("an odd cuss").

How do you pronounce “cuss”?

“Cuss” is pronounced kuhs (/kʌs/ in IPA).

How do you use “cuss” in a sentence?

Here is “cuss” used in a sentence: “He cussed loudly after hitting his thumb with the hammer.”

What part of speech is “cuss”?

Depending on how it is used, “cuss” can be a verb and a noun.

How many meanings does “cuss” have?

“Cuss” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal: to swear or use bad language.

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