curmudgeon

noun

(ˌ)kər-ˈmə-jən How to pronounce curmudgeon (audio)
Definition of curmudgeonnext
as in crab
an irritable and complaining person only a curmudgeon would object to the nursing home's holiday decorations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of curmudgeon Though Sam is a card-carrying curmudgeon, his next-door neighbor Jack (Bill Pullman) isn’t deterred from inviting him over for a barbecue. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 May 2026 An appreciation for one of the dining world’s great curmudgeons. — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 While some filmmakers, like Darren Aronofsky, considered his harsh critiques a badge of honor, Reed's colleagues remembered him as more than just a curmudgeon. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 12 May 2026 The David Hockney–esque Julian was a star of the ’60s and ’70s but has spent the past three decades in prolonged retreat, living off his notoriety and persona as an art curmudgeon — first as a judge on a reality-competition show and, more recently, on Cameo. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curmudgeon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curmudgeon
  1. crab
  2. complainer
  3. bear
  4. crank
  5. grump
Noun
  • Seafood is the star of the show here—especially the shrimp and grits and crab cakes, which Bernthal says are a must-order.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The crabs were first spotted in the Mediterranean Sea in the last century but really began wreaking havoc only around a decade ago, when their population surged, posing a threat both to native biodiversity and to the fishing industry.
    — Gennaro Tomma, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of crab
Noun
  • My ‘Deborah Vance Show senior writer’ persona was kind of a rude complainer with an incipient alcohol problem.
    — Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Are they deluded into thinking that the complainers are just a squeaky wheel minority and the majority of fans are happy with it?
    — Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of complainer
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the clinical data undercuts the GLP-1 bear case, and Insulet’s balance sheet and margin profile show no cracks beyond the specific retention metric management flagged.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The biggest bear killers by far in Central Florida are motor vehicles, blamed for killing 1,545 bears in the region in the past 10 years, including 219 in 2025, the most since 2021 when 242 bears died on the region’s roadways.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of bear
Noun
  • Even at low speeds, the model variant’s flat-crank V-8 feels alive and brimming with 8,300 rpm of possibility.
    — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
  • That felt the opposite here,as Chandler and Pierre actually have great chemistry together — with Pierre delivering most of the thoughtful answers and Chandler playing the role of the lovable crank.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of crank
Noun
  • While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.
    — Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
  • Youngman said Adelman was misunderstood and mischaracterized as something of a grump without personality.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Definition of grump

Browse Nearby Words

curly
curmudgeon
curmudgeonliness
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Cite this Entry

“Curmudgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curmudgeon. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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