What does cussed mean?
"Cussed" is an informal adjective describing something or someone stubbornly uncooperative. A cussed person refuses to be reasoned with, persuaded, or moved, out of sheer contrariness rather than principle; a cussed machine, lock, or problem resists every attempt to make it work properly. The word carries a tone of exasperation, sometimes softened into grudging fondness for a character whose obstinacy is part of their charm. Historically it arose in the nineteenth century as an altered form of "cursed", reflecting the American practice of softening swear words, and it remains common in both American and British speech. Related forms include the noun "cuss" (a stubborn or annoying person) and "cussedness" (the quality of being stubbornly difficult).
adjectiveStubborn, obstinate, or awkwardly uncooperative; often applied to people or things that refuse to work or behave as they should.
- Stubborn, obstinate, or persistently uncooperative (of a person).
- Difficult to operate, fix, or deal with; persistently troublesome (of a thing).
"The old tractor was a cussed machine that refused to start on cold mornings."
"He was too cussed to admit he needed help."
"The cussed bolt wouldn't budge no matter which wrench we tried."
"Cussed" is really "cursed" in disguise — an American frontier reshaping of the word, so calling someone cussed is, historically, calling them cursed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cussed
The word derives from "curse", with "cuss" emerging in nineteenth-century America as an altered, euphemistic pronunciation. "Cussed" then developed as its participial adjective, first meaning under a curse and later shifting to mean stubbornly ill-natured or perverse. Its closest relatives are "curse" itself and "accursed", all pointing back through Middle English to Old French "curuz".
Related word forms
How cussed is actually used
Informal to colloquial in register, with roots in American English but now used in British English too. The connotation is usually mildly negative or exasperated, though it can carry grudging affection when describing a lovably contrary person.
Easily confused with cussed
"Cursed" means afflicted by a curse or deserving condemnation, whereas "cussed" means stubbornly uncooperative.