curmudgeon
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of curmudgeon
First recorded in 1570–80; unexplained; perhaps cur-, representing cur
Explanation
Old, cranky, and more than a little stubborn, a curmudgeon is the gruff, grey-haired neighbor who refuses to hand out candy at Halloween and shoos away holiday carolers with a "bah humbug!" As fickle and stubborn as the type of person it describes, curmudgeon comes to us without a history, its origins undisclosed. It was originally believed to have come from coeur mechant, the French phrase for “evil heart,” but that theory has been long discarded. Don't worry though, you’ll know a curmudgeon when you see one: He’ll be ill-tempered and miserly, eager to shake his fist and spout disagreeable opinions.
Vocabulary lists containing curmudgeon
St. Patrick's Day Vocabulary: Words With Irish and Gaelic Roots
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Scrooge, Grinch, and Churl: Wonderful Words for Unpleasant People
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Curmudgeon, Cantankerous and Churlish: Grouchy Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Duvall drew on his inner curmudgeon throughout his career.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026
Without their love story, we might never have seen Bill as anything other than a belligerent survivalist and eternal curmudgeon Joel knew him to be.
From Salon • May 26, 2025
Willie Nelson’s 152nd album and Benedict Cumberbatch playing a curmudgeon puppeteer in “Eric” on Netflix are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.
From Seattle Times • May 26, 2024
It’s a perfect role for curmudgeon specialist Paul Giamatti, if not quite the pure pleasure of a loser he previously played for director Alexander Payne in “Sideways.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2024
Dad says his uncle was a charming curmudgeon, which I think means grumpy with some niceness thrown in.
From "Crenshaw" by Katherine Applegate
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
