spoilsport

noun

spoil·​sport ˈspȯi(-ə)l-ˌspȯrt How to pronounce spoilsport (audio)
: one who spoils the sport or pleasure of others

Examples of spoilsport in a Sentence

Oh, don't be a spoilsport. Let them try it. Dad's a spoilsport. He won't let us play football.
Recent Examples on the Web This spoilsport effort has become fodder for late-night comedy routines and gripes about liberal overlords such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg banishing all fun. Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024 Be prepared to be labelled humourless, difficult, a spoilsport, and a ruiner of parties, meetings, dinners, and picnics. Natalie Gil, refinery29.com, 11 July 2023 Sorry for being a spoilsport. John F. Wasik, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2021 Who knows whether another variant will turn spoilsport next year. Rajrishi Singhal, Quartz, 10 Feb. 2022 Does wanting to moderate the telling of jokes about AI sentience become a grinch-like spoilsport? Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 While demand is ballooning, high taxes—3% each market fee and rural development fund, 2.5% commission to agents and 1% service charges—could play spoilsport. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2022 But who wants to be a spoilsport when so much fun is being had? Jack Schnedler, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2022 One stakeholder in particular could play spoilsport. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 22 Dec. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spoilsport.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spoilsport was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near spoilsport

Cite this Entry

“Spoilsport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoilsport. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spoilsport

noun
spoil·​sport ˈspȯi(ə)l-ˌspō(ə)rt How to pronounce spoilsport (audio)
-ˌspȯ(ə)rt
: a person who spoils the fun of others
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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