What is Cucked? [Gaming Definition, Meaning]

8:00 AM December 28, 2017

Have you ever heard a phrase or term in the middle of your gaming session that just threw you out of your immersive experience? Better yet, have you ever seen Twitch chat “copypasta” some ridiculous sentences that just seemed nonsensical? Don't worry. It's happened to us as well. And we like to think of ourselves as having a finger on the gaming community's pulse.

For that reason, we'd like to help break down one of the terms that confused us for a while, cucked. We're going to examine this word's history, meaning (as it pertains to gaming), and usage. Without further ado, let's get into today's topic: What is Cucked?

History

This term has actually been around since the 13th century. "Cucked" is a slang form of the word "cuckold" which in itself is a derivative of the cuckoo bird. It's a bird that generally lays its eggs in the nest of another bird.

In 2016, it gained a lot of awareness because it was being used a lot in political discussions when talking about different types of conservative politicians. Amidst these talks, a new term was coined "cuckservative". It was a combination of "cuck" and conservative". Most notably, it was used to differentiate Donald Trump, a "strong, unwavering leader", from more beta politicians who would flip-flop on their various stances.

But, spending more time on that would be beyond the interest of our fellow readers here at Honey's Anime. So, the most important thing to remember is that it was originally used in conjunction with a specific bird that lays its eggs in other birds' nests.

Current Meaning

So, before I get into its current state in the gaming world, let me take a step back and tell you how it has been used more broadly in modern society. The word definitely has various meanings, but they're all negative and condescending. Let me describe the least offensive version of it.

A cuckold is a man who has his girlfriend or wife taken by another man. This could happen in a plethora of ways, but the main point is that a man has been defeated or outclassed and his most prized possession (his girlfriend or wife) has been taken from him. In other words, he has been made to look like a beta male or subservient to the more powerful man.

Now, let's look at how cucked relates to gaming. Along with its change in appearance, the term has also lost a bit of its previous meaning. It no longer has a connection with having your most prized possession taken from you. But, it still keeps the implication that you have suffered a huge defeat or have been outclassed by someone better.

Alternatively, it is also used as a substitution for using the f-bomb. That seems to be where the trend is headed. As fewer people know about the connection of cucked to cuckold to cuckoo bird, it is being used more as a variation on the f-word. If this isn't quite clear, don't worry. I'll give you a couple of examples in our last section.

Usage

Alright, so let's get to know how people are using cucked in the gaming community. So, as we mentioned in the previous section, cucked is a word with a negative connotation and is mostly used to let off steam in the heat of the moment or when something unexpectedly bad takes place. The most common examples are games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and Call of Duty. This is the case because these games tend to have such high-intensity matches and people put a lot of focus on team-play and communication.

League of Legends

System/Platform: PC
Publisher: Riot Games
Developer: Riot Games
Release Date: 2009

League of Legends is a 5v5 team-based, real-time strategy game. Your team uses various champions to knock down the enemy’s turrets and march their way into their base. Once you’re there, you want to destroy the enemy’s Nexus to end the game. It relies entirely on team synergy, communication, and outplaying the enemy mechanically.

Here is an instance of when you’d see cucked used in League of Legends: "Our mid-laner cucked us last game by not roaming bot and ganking.". Here, a player is venting their frustration that the mid-laner didn't find time in the early game to roam the bottom lane and kill off the ADC or support. "Cucked" is used here as a substitution for "screwed" or the f-bomb.

Call of Duty: WWII

System/Platform: v
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Sledgehammer Games, Raven Software
Release Date: 2017

Call of Duty: WWII is a fast-paced first-person shooter with a campaign mode and multiplayer mode as well. In multiplayer, players use various weapons and strategies to outmaneuver the enemy team and take over various objectives. This game relies on having twitch-like reactions and knowing how the enemy team will respond to the way your teammates are positioned around the map.

In Call of Duty, you might hear cucked used like this: "Last night our team took a huge cucking in the CoD tournament." Here, a player is venting out his frustration over the fact that he was beaten and outclassed by such a large margin that it was embarrassing. "Cucking" is used as an alternative way of saying "beating" or "frustrating loss".

Overwatch

System/Platform: PlayStation 4, XBox One, Microsoft Windows
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: 2016

Overwatch is similar to Call of Duty in the fact that it is also a first-person shooter. But, that’s where the similarities end. Overwatch takes an even higher fast-paced approach while giving the players access to highly technological weapons and abilities that constantly keep the enemy on their toes. Victorious players are the ones who can communicate with teammates efficiently, are strong at platforming across the map, and can have immaculate aiming in the heat of battle.

You may have heard a fellow Overwatch player say: Dude, that other team was cucking us so hard, I didn't know what to do! This is a similar usage of the meaning up above. It simply states that the loss so brutal that it left the player and his teammates without any options of coming back

Final Thoughts

We are hopeful that this article helped you understand the meaning of “cucked” and its various uses. At its core, it’s just a word used to vent frustration over a loss. Keep that in mind and you’ll be set.

Thanks for reading the article. We know that breaking down gaming definitions isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it is helpful to know what some players are saying to you in your gaming sessions or in Twitch chat. Hopefully, this was helpful and slightly informative at the same time.

If you have a moment, leave a comment below and let us know how you like to use "cucked" when playing a game. Or maybe you've never seen this word, but you'd like to know about another gaming term. We'd be ecstatic to hear from you. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Writer

Author: Javier Garcia

Hey guys! I'm a huge fan of anime and video games. I used to be a competitive fighting game player (search my name in YouTube). So, I guess it was natural for me to make my way over here to Japan. I teach English, write anime articles, and put together videos when I have time. I hope you enjoy the content we've created for you here at Honey's Anime!

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