grinch

American  

[grinch] / grɪntʃ /

noun

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

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grinch British  

/ ɡrɪntʃ /

noun

1. informal a person whose lack of enthusiasm or bad temper has a depressing effect on others

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Etymology

Origin of grinch

Coined by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) in the children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957), the Grinch being the central misanthropic character

Explanation

A grinch is a person who's so cranky and mean-spirited that they want to ruin everyone else's fun. If you keep being such a grinch, your friends will start to avoid you! Dr. Seuss didn't coin grinch when he wrote How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but he is credited with turning it into a familiar, everyday word. Before the book was published in 1957, other unpleasant literary characters had the name Grinch, and the verb grinching was used to mean "a harsh, grating noise." Describing someone as a grinch today means they're a killjoy or party pooper, trying to make everyone feel as bad as they do.

Example Sentences

But the company noted how its Grinch meal, offered at the end of 2025, helped it see its biggest single sales day in history.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

McDonald’s has enjoyed its share of success with themed limited-edition meals, from one tied to hip-hop star Travis Scott to a more recent one built around the Dr. Seuss Grinch character.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

An Instagram account called “ChuckChuck” materialized, depicting Horning as the Grinch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

In January, French forces and their allies boarded another suspected Russian "shadow fleet" tanker, the Grinch.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

I had seen this Psi Special Forces officer before—Sam called him the Grinch, because he looked like he had stepped straight out of the movie, save for no green skin.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken