cuss 1 of 2

noun

ˈkəs How to pronounce cuss (audio)
Definition of cussnext
as in curse
a disrespectful or indecent word or expression a man who has never uttered a single cuss

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

cuss

2 of 2

verb

as in to swear
to use offensive or indecent language the little girl clapped her hands over her ears when her brother started cussing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cuss
Noun
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 How many f**king cuss words are in these sh**ty video games, anyway? — Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2014
Verb
There were multiple times I was shoved so someone could get a little bit closer to the starting line or was cussed out for defecting on what our group had decided. — True Tamplin, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 The right move for Kiffin would have been to show Rollins some sympathy, or at the very least talk to him without cussing and yelling. — Nashville Tennessean, 2 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for cuss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cuss
  1. curse
  2. swear
  3. language
  4. profanity
  5. expletive
Noun
  • Then, Democrats have to be thinking about what happens if Republicans only have a mild case of the midterm curse.
    — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Flubber can do anything, which is both a blessing and a curse for Professor Brainard.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of curse
Verb
  • Tran swears that having a physical manifestation to interact with is why the terrifying sequences work.
    — Simon Thompson, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Carney and his cabinet swore allegiance to King Charles III in their oaths.
    — Olivia Kemp, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of swear
Noun
  • Owned by the American toy company Hasbro, Monopoly is licensed to 113 countries and printed in 46 languages around the globe.
    — Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of language
Noun
  • The rules include abstaining from substances that are already forbidden by the LDS Church, practicing chastity, forgoing the use of profanity and following a dress code that prohibits men from wearing beards or goatees and requires skirts to be no shorter than knee-length.
    — Ashley Hume, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Candidates for the Summit Hill Elementary District 161 Board denounced a note featuring profanity and anti-Muslim sentiment as reprehensible rhetoric from a community member.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of profanity
Noun
  • Carey then stood, accused Edwards of lying and used a string of expletives until police escorted him out of the auditorium.
    — Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Around the five-second mark in the video, the toddler turns to the camera, still in her mom's arms, to mime along to an expletive in the GloRilla track playing over the video.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of expletive

Browse Nearby Words

cusps
cuss
cussed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cuss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cuss. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All