cuss

1 of 2

noun

ˈkəs How to pronounce cuss (audio)
Synonyms of cussnext
1
a
: curse sense 1
b
: curse sense 2
2
: fellow sense 4c

cuss

2 of 2

verb

cussed; cussing; cusses

transitive verb

: curse
—often used with out
got cussed out by his boss

intransitive verb

: curse
cusser noun

Synonyms of cuss

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Noun

Verb

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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
How many f**king cuss words are in these sh**ty video games, anyway? — Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2014 Betty Sykes didn’t give a cuss what came out of her mouth—and much of it was cusses—or who listened. — Graham Swift, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2022
Verb
The man who blew the whistle didn’t shout, didn’t cuss and didn’t make a scene. — Jason Quick, New York Times, 2 June 2026 Are some people angry that a children’s book author would cuss in an adult novel? — Literary Hub, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cuss

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of curse

First Known Use

Noun

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1768, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of cuss was in 1768

Phrases Containing cuss

Rhymes for cuss

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Browse Nearby Words

cuspule
cuss
cussed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cuss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cuss. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cuss

2 of 2 verb
: swear sense 5
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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