Meaning & Definition of word "Curmudgeon"

Curmudgeon

/kərˈmʌdʒən/

noun:

  • 1. A bad-tempered or surly person, often an old man.
    • Example: My neighbor is such a curmudgeon; he always complains about the noise.
  • 2. A person who is persistently grumpy or ill-tempered.
    • Example: Don't mind Mr. Thompson; he's just a curmudgeon who doesn't like to be disturbed.
  • 3. An individual who is difficult to please or very cantankerous.
    • Example: The curmudgeon at the coffee shop always shouts at the baristas for making his drink wrong.
  • 4. A person, especially an older person, who is often in a bad mood.
    • Example: Despite his curmudgeon demeanor, he has a soft spot for children.

Etymology

The origin of the term curmudgeon is uncertain, but it may have roots in the late 16th-century Scottish word 'curmudgeon' meaning a miser.

Common Phrases and Expressions

curmudgeonly behavior:

Acting in a grumpy or irritable manner.

old curmudgeon:

Referring to an elderly person who is typically grumpy.

curmudgeon's corner:

A place where a curmudgeon typically sits or resides, often in a way that implies isolation or grumpiness.

Related Words

grouch:

A person who habitually complains or is irritable.

grump:

A person who is often in a bad mood.

misanthrope:

A person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.

Slang Meanings of curmudgeon

Meaning: Grumpy old man

Example Sentence: Don't become a grumpy old man like him.

Meaning: Buzzkill

Example Sentence: He’s such a buzzkill; always complaining like a curmudgeon.