English Reference

Word

cuss

US/ˈkəs/

UK/kˈʌs/

Definition

n. a strong, rude word used to show you are angry or upset. You usually use this word when you are talking to someone you know well and want to be casual.

n. a mild or informal term for a profane or offensive word used to express anger or frustration. Typically used in casual speech among friends or family.

Examples

“He muttered a few cuss words when he dropped the glass.”

“The old man let out a few cuss words when the car wouldn't start on a cold morning.”

“While the script called for a more formal reaction, the actor chose to deliver a few cuss words to make the character feel more authentic and human.”

Examples

simple

“He muttered a few cuss words when he dropped the glass.”

contextual

“The old man let out a few cuss words when the car wouldn't start on a cold morning.”

complex

“While the script called for a more formal reaction, the actor chose to deliver a few cuss words to make the character feel more authentic and human.”

Etymology

An American English variant of curse; for a similar phonetic development, compare ass (“buttocks”), from arse, in which the r was originally pronounced (as in curse).

Clipping of customer.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/cuss

English Reference