Synonyms

sourpuss

American

[souuhr-poos, sou-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.

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

Feb. 12 was an all-time low for sourpuss Sports letters.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2023

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

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2022

The smile that had been ghosting across Miss Anderson’s face while Miss Preston admonished me drops off real quick, and Miss Anderson’s usual sourpuss face reappears.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

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