Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

sourball

American  
[souuhr-bawl, sou-er-] / ˈsaʊərˌbɔl, ˈsaʊ ər- /

noun

  1. a round piece of hard candy with a tart or acid fruit flavoring.

  2. Informal. a chronic grouch.


Etymology

Origin of sourball

First recorded in 1895–1900; sour + ball 1

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 much-needed sourball who kept the proceedings from turning sickly sweet, Petra began the series as Rafael’s wife and thus Jane’s foil.

From Slate • Jul. 31, 2019

An uneasy, tonally awkward testament to the sourball heart of the candy-colored American Dream, George Clooney’s “Suburbicon” can’t be described as a home run.

From Washington Post • Oct. 24, 2017

Reviewers had praised them, ranked Weidman with such sourball writers as John O'Hara, James M. Cain, Hemingway.

From Time Magazine Archive

In his pockets was always a supply of sourball candies, which he passed out to montagnard children�if they took a bath.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Oh, hush!" sobbed the giant, rolling his great sourball eyes.

From The Royal Book of Oz In which the Scarecrow goes to search for his family tree and discovers that he is the Long Lost Emperor of the Silver Island by Thompson, Ruth Plumly

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "sourball" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com