a curse; oath a person or animal, esp an annoying one
- another word for
curse 8
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
cuss /kʌs/USA pronunciation
[Informal.]
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- Informal Termsto use profanity (to)* curse (at): [no object]He was cussing as they took him off to jail.[~ + at + object]cussing at his captors[~ + object]He cussed me under his breath.
n. [countable]
- Informal Termsan obscene word;
curse. - Informal Termsa person or animal: a strange old cuss.
cuss
(kus),USA pronunciation [Informal.]
v.i.
v.t.
n.
cuss′er, n.
v.i.
- Informal Termsto use profanity;
curse;
swear.
v.t.
- Informal Termsto swear at;
curse:He cussed the pedestrian for getting in his way. - Informal Termsto criticize or reprimand in harsh terms (often fol. by out):The coach cussed out the team for losing.
n.
- Informal Termscurse word;
oath. - Informal Termsa person or animal:a strange but likable cuss.
- variant of curse, with loss of r and shortening of vowel, as in ass2, bass2, passel, etc. 1765–75, American.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::