killjoy
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of killjoy
First recorded in 1770–80
Explanation
A killjoy is a person who spoils all the fun for everybody. You may be a killjoy if everyone’s enjoying their meal at a restaurant and you complain constantly about the terrible service. The first instance of the word killjoy was recorded in 1776, and its meaning kind of makes sense: a killjoy kills everyone else's joy. There are some other great old-style slang phrases to describe the person who pops your balloon or rains on your parade. The most popular among them are "party pooper," "wet blanket," and "stick in the mud."
Vocabulary lists containing killjoy
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer
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Clean Getaway
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Merci Suárez Changes Gears
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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.
The question haunts Juicy as he tries to turn his pout into a smile for the guests and not be the killjoy his stepfather accuses him of being.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024
But in truth, on any one day, in any one place, the weather could be your friend or a killjoy - and that applies to Carbondale, too.
From BBC • Mar. 22, 2024
Mr. Whitehead infused Barbay with some pathos — the character seemed unable to keep himself from being a killjoy — which added another layer to the humor.
From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2023
Such hope would be a priceless perk for the new owner, who could garner instant credibility simply for not being an obstinate killjoy.
From Washington Post • Mar. 6, 2023
I knew better than to not call my grandmother but I was tired of being a killjoy, and my sisters and I were back in step with one another.
From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia
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.
