cuss
cuss Lexical Profile
cuss Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American An informal term for a curse, swear word, or profane expression.
"He let out a quiet cuss after accidentally dropping the heavy toolbox on his foot."
North American An annoying, stubborn, or eccentric person or animal.
"The old mule was a stubborn cuss that refused to cross the wooden bridge."
• verb
North American To utter profanities, swear words, or curses, either in anger or toward someone.
"My grandmother always reminded the children not to cuss in polite company."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Cuss" is a mild, informal, and chiefly North American variant of "curse" that softens the severity of swearing or profanity.
• Rhymes for cuss
Word Origin & Etymology
Originated in late 18th-century American English as a colloquial and dialectal pronunciation variant of the word "curse", reflecting the dropping of the 'r' sound before 's'.