curmudgeon

American  

[ker-muhj-uhn] / kərˈmʌdʒ ən /

noun

1. a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person.

   Synonyms:

   crosspatch, kvetch, sourpuss, bear, crank, grump, grouch

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curmudgeon British  

/ kɜːˈmʌdʒən /

noun

1. a surly or miserly person

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Other Word Forms

• curmudgeonly adjective

Etymology

Origin of curmudgeon

First recorded in 1570–80; unexplained; perhaps cur-, representing cur

Example Sentences

The L.A. comedy scene’s favorite curmudgeon is still finding the will to propel himself forward, hurtling over one existential crisis after another.

From Los Angeles Times

Urie is nominated in the category alongside his co-star Harrison Ford, who plays Paul, a curmudgeon therapist with a soft spot who finds love again while navigating Parkinson’s disease.

From Los Angeles Times

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

I’m just a girl charmed by his curmudgeon demeanor and annoyance for everything.

From Los Angeles Times

Partly autobiographical — Cox herself grew up in Mobile — “Clean Slate” imagines a world where a curmudgeon like Harry would have just as hard a time with Desiree’s vegetarian proclivities as with her gender identity.

From Los Angeles Times