What does cussedly mean?
"Cussedly" is an adverb describing behaviour that is stubbornly, even perversely, determined — the kind of obstinacy that resists all reason, persuasion, or common sense. Someone who acts cussedly digs in their heels not because they are right, but because yielding would feel like defeat. The word derives from "cussed," a nineteenth-century English term meaning obstinate or cantankerous, itself an altered form of "curst" (the old form of "cursed"). In tone it sits between irritation and grudging affection: a character might be described as cussedly independent, or a machine might run cussedly despite every repair. It appears most often in British and American informal prose, where writers reach for it to convey a wilful, contrary streak with a hint of humour. Its close cousin "cursedly," though nearly identical in spelling, means something quite different — afflicted by or deserving of a curse — making the two words an easy but consequential pair to confuse.
adverbIn a stubborn, obstinate, or wilfully perverse manner; in a way that shows unreasoning and contrary determination.
- In a stubborn, obstinate, or wilfully perverse manner.
"He cussedly refused to ask for directions, even as the petrol gauge sank toward empty."
"The old tractor started only after she coaxed it cussedly for an hour."
"He remained cussedly silent throughout the negotiation, refusing every offer on principle."
"Cussed" began life as a mangled version of "curst" — so when you call someone cussedly stubborn, you're technically saying they're cursed with contrariness.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cussedly
"Cussedly" derives from "cussed," an adjective meaning obstinate or perverse that emerged in English in the nineteenth century as an altered form of "curst," the older past participle of "curse." The shift from "curst" to "cussed" likely arose through colloquial pronunciation. The adverb was formed from this adjective with the standard "-ly" ending, and its sibling noun "cussedness" captures the same quality of wilful contrariness.
Related word forms
How cussedly is actually used
Informal to mildly literary in register; the word carries a slightly affectionate or exasperated tone, often implying admiration mixed with irritation at someone's stubbornness.
Easily confused with cussedly
"Cursedly" means in a manner deserving or marked by a curse or misfortune, while "cussedly" means stubbornly or perversely — the two words differ by a single letter but have unrelated meanings.