cuss

1 of 2

noun

cuss

2 of 2

verb

cussed; cussing; cusses

transitive verb

: curse
often used with out
got cussed out by his boss
cusser noun

Examples of cuss in a Sentence

Noun a man who has never uttered a single cuss Verb She started to yell and cuss as soon as she saw him. the little girl clapped her hands over her ears when her brother started cussing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
And, when the alarm wails hours before dawn, human cusses of angry protest join the chorus of budget appliances failing before their time. Virginia Konchan, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 My grandmother extended a ladder up into this tough old cuss of a tree and climbed up, at some risk, to pick the bulging fruit. Jim Meddleton, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
Verb
Trump quipped during the event about Graham’s letter urging him to stop cussing at his political rallies. Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025 The familiar Kesha emerges: talk-singing and cussing and boasting about her penchant for horny partying. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cuss

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of curse

First Known Use

Noun

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1768, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of cuss was in 1768

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cuss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cuss. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

cuss

1 of 2 noun

cuss

2 of 2 verb
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!