Definition

The quality of being stubborn or difficult to deal with.

Example

His cussedness made it hard for the team to work together.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how some people just have a natural cussedness about them?

I know what you mean; it can be really frustrating sometimes.

Yeah, it’s like they thrive on being difficult for no reason.

Totally! It makes you wonder how they got that way.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cussedness is formed from "cussed" (a variant of "cursed", from Old English "cursian", meaning to invoke evil upon) and the suffix "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "cussedness" refers to the state of being cursed or having a stubborn, ill-tempered nature.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'cursed' ('cussed') with a bad attitude, and the '-ness' indicates the quality of that attitude.

Visually Confused Words