buzzkill

American  

[buhz-kil] / ˈbʌzˌkɪl /

Or buzz kill

noun

Slang.

1. a person or thing that spoils the mood or the pleasure of others.

   Enforcement of strict park rules could be a buzzkill for concertgoers.

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buzzkill British  

/ ˈbʌzˌkɪlə, ˈbʌzˌkɪl /

noun

1. slang someone or something that stops people from enjoying themselves

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Etymology

Origin of buzzkill

First recorded in 1990–95; buzz ( def. ) (in the sense “feeling of excitement”) + kill ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “to spoil”)

Example Sentences

“It was like, ‘Thanks for being the buzzkill about my vacation,’ ” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

It’s no fun to be a buzzkill with the stock market soaring Wednesday following the announcement of a cease-fire with Iran.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Not to be a buzzkill, but mostly to create a buffer between “ooh, I want that” and “click to purchase.”

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

It’s a buzzkill to see the military arrive a few minutes into the movie and shut the bash down.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

I scowled—sometimes those guys were a total buzzkill.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling