Synonyms

sourpuss

American

[sauuhr-poos, sau-er-] / ˈsaʊərˌpʊs, ˈsaʊ ər- /

noun

Informal.

a person having a grouchy disposition that is often accompanied by a scowling facial expression.

sourpuss British

/ ˈsaʊəˌpʊs /

noun

informal a person whose facial expression or nature is habitually gloomy or sullen

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sourpuss

First recorded in 1935–40; sour + puss ²

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.

See Examples For:

sourpuss

Fans of the hirsute sourpuss seek him out for his in-your-face edge — the opposite of Santa’s remote joviality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 25, 2025

I tried leaning on it, hand on hip, and felt myself transformed from a geriatric sourpuss into a bemused observer of the human cavalcade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025

Not to put too fine a point on things, but Mike, as played by Hutcherson, is a real sourpuss.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 27, 2023

However, Dorothy is a dour sourpuss in part because she mourns their late daughter.

From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2022

So there I was: stuck with old sourpuss.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023