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

I don’t mean to be a grinch; Christmas and New Year’s are worthy observations, not media distractions, but could the timing be worse?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2023

There’s also tree decorating, stressful last-minute mall shopping and Wolverine being an absolute grinch but saving the life of a young underground Morlock.

From Washington Post • Dec. 11, 2021

Small disclaimer before I give my answer: I am a bit of a grinch.

From Slate • Dec. 12, 2019

The Christmas grinch was as busy as ever.

From Washington Times • Dec. 28, 2015

However, there's a grinch in the works: rival store manager Warren Clarke, determined to secure the most takings on the big day by foul means.

From The Guardian • Dec. 21, 2012