curmudgeon

noun

cur·​mud·​geon (ˌ)kər-ˈmə-jən How to pronounce curmudgeon (audio)
1
: a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man
2
archaic : miser
curmudgeonliness noun
curmudgeonly adjective

Examples of curmudgeon in a Sentence

At his quirky best, the elder Cooper is a curmudgeon right out of central casting, grumpy old man meets borscht-belt crank. He really does fiddle with his hearing aid and yell, "What? I can't hear you," only to chide you afterward that there's no need to shout. Norah Vincent, New York Times Book Review, 19 Feb. 2006
We were in Edinburgh visiting the in-laws. I was, as usual, being a grumpy old curmudgeon. My people don't travel well. David Mamet, Jafsie and John Henry Essays, 1999
Oh, he had the reputation for being a curmudgeon, and he didn't suffer fools gladly, and often he seemed to have no tolerance for people at all. Robertson Davies, The Lyre of Orpheus, 1989
only a curmudgeon would object to the nursing home's holiday decorations
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As a boss, Canby was exceptionally kind and protective, a joyful curmudgeon. Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Nothing adds depth to an irascible curmudgeon quite like an irrational love of pets that do not love you back. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025 Nostalgic curmudgeons will tell you the food’s gone downhill, but the wings taste better than ever. Jay Deitcher, Time, 6 Aug. 2025 As a no-nonsense curmudgeon with a heart of gold, Bubba Ray took to coaching the Season 1 cast of WWE LFG like a duck to water. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for curmudgeon

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of curmudgeon was in 1568

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Cite this Entry

“Curmudgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curmudgeon. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

curmudgeon

noun
cur·​mud·​geon kər-ˈməj-ən How to pronounce curmudgeon (audio)
: a grumpy and usually old man
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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