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curmudgeon

curmudgeon

10 9.9
An old person who is often grumpy and unfriendly
  • noun
  • /kərˈmʌdʒən/
  • Offensive
translation icon : gruñón
  • My grandfather was a typical curmudgeon, always grumbling about the youth of today.

Are you, are you just a curmudgeon and, and, and you're no fun.

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Examples

  • I will be the curmudgeon you hear about who still wants vinyl records and my old rotary phone.

    Blog text (9)
  • Local opinion holds me as surly, aging, irascible, crusty—in short, a curmudgeon—and I foster the illusion.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • To be sure, the Curmudgeon will be voting for Obama.

    Blog text (22)
  • Are you, are you just a curmudgeon and, and, and you're no fun.

  • Okay, I'll be the curmudgeon and say I rarely, rarely ever read the pet entries.

    Blog text (29)
  • Indeed, in the last third of the book, there are times when Pritchard comes across as something of a curmudgeon.

    Academic text (1996)
  • No, no, Baronne, don't be such a curmudgeon.

  • Fiercely independent, Vance took pride in acting the curmudgeon.

    Academic text (1999)
  • One of the neighbors, whom Paul remembered as an elderly type of dignified curmudgeon, interrupted.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Although we may think him a curmudgeon and see his Key to All Mythologies as a monument to pedantry, she sees him as the embodiment of virtue.

Synonyms

old coot
vscurmudgeon
  • Informal
15 9.5

An old man who behaves strangely and is often grumpy

is an older person mainly ill-tempered and often stubborn
grouch
vscurmudgeon
14 5.2

A person who is often bad-tempered and complains

is the older annoyed type who often resists change or refuses to adapt
grump
vscurmudgeon
10 5.3

A person who is often in a bad mood and complains

is more specifically an older ill-tempered person who may be stubborn
grumbler
vscurmudgeon
1 5.3

A person who often complains about small things

is generally older and bad-tempered, not only one who makes petty complaints
grouser
vscurmudgeon
  • Informal
1 9.1

A person who often complains in an annoying way

is more about an older angry temperament than merely frequent complaining
stiffneck
vscurmudgeon
  • Offensive
9.3

A person who refuses to change their mind or actions

is similar but emphasizes age and frequent irritability rather than only stubbornness
disagreeable person
vscurmudgeon
4.5

An unpleasant person who is hard to get along with

is usually an older irritable person, not just generally unpleasant

Antonyms

A friendly, happy way of acting that makes others feel better

How Bad-Tempered

crank
  • Offensive
29 7.7
curmudgeon
  • Offensive
10 9.9
grouch
14 5.2
grumbler
1 5.3

Surface Forms

curmudgeon singular
curmudgeons plural

Etymology

Curmudgeon has an uncertain origin, so a helpful way to remember it is to split it into cur ('mean dog') and mudgeon (a grumpy person) and picture a growling old man. That's why curmudgeon means someone, often an older man, who is bad-tempered and easily annoyed.