Skip to main content
sourpuss

sourpuss

9 8.0
A person who often seems unhappy and grumpy
  • noun
  • /ˈsaʊərˌpʌs/
  • Offensive
translation icon : amargado
  • He always complains about everything; he's such a sourpuss.
  • old sourpuss

Examples

Synonyms

gloomy Gus
vssourpuss
  • Informal
2 8.6

A person who is often sad and thinks things will go wrong

is similar but adds plain grumpiness rather than pessimism
moper
vssourpuss
1 7.5

A person who is often gloomy and stays quiet

is more about a generally grumpy or bad-tempered character
picklepuss
vssourpuss
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who often looks unhappy and does not smile

is broader, covering general grumpiness as a lasting trait
dyspeptic
vssourpuss
  • Formal
1 9.9

A person who often has an upset stomach or is bad-tempered

focuses on a persistent sullen or grumpy temperament rather than cause
pouter
vssourpuss
8.8

A person who often shows a sad face by pushing their lips forward

is broader, not limited to pouting facial behaviour
sulker
vssourpuss
7.7

A person who stays silent and alone because they feel angry or upset

is more about a steady grumpy mood not just withdrawal
frowner
vssourpuss
6.8

A person who often looks unhappy or annoyed by drawing their eyebrows together

refers to a general sullen or grumpy personality rather than a facial sign

Antonyms

63 3.2

A person who usually expects good things to happen

How Grumpy

curmudgeon
  • Offensive
10 9.9
sourpuss
  • Offensive
9 8.0
grump
10 5.3
grouch
14 5.2

Surface Forms

sourpuss singular
sourpusses plural

Morphology

sourpuss = sour + puss (semi-transparent) = sour + puss

Formed from 'sour' + 'puss' and literally suggests a 'sour face', but 'puss' = 'face' is informal/dated and may be unknown to some learners, so the meaning is only partly predictable.

Etymology

Sourpuss comes from two simple words: sour, meaning 'bad or sharp taste', and puss, meaning 'face'. So a sourpuss is someone who shows a 'sour' face, which explains why the word means a grumpy or gloomy person.