as in spoilsport
a person who spoils the pleasure of others
his perpetually negative attitude made him a real killjoy when others were trying to have fun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of killjoy
Esther is the original feminist killjoy — acerbic, brilliant, obsessive, confrontational, deeply relatable.
—
Jillian Eugenios, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
Believe it or not, between sipping delicious eggnog and hot cocoa and enjoying the joy of Yuletide with family and friends, there are still naughty killjoys afoot during Christmastime — the worst of which appear in some of the best holiday films.
—Mike Miller, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
That’s when a try-hard, killjoy Kansas senator, Bob Dole, convinced congressional colleagues to get serious about taxing tipped workers.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Anybody who asks for more from this new production, therefore, or who points out what is missing, risks the charge of being the merest killjoy.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killjoy
Jillian Eugenios, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
Believe it or not, between sipping delicious eggnog and hot cocoa and enjoying the joy of Yuletide with family and friends, there are still naughty killjoys afoot during Christmastime — the worst of which appear in some of the best holiday films.
—Mike Miller, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
That’s when a try-hard, killjoy Kansas senator, Bob Dole, convinced congressional colleagues to get serious about taxing tipped workers.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Anybody who asks for more from this new production, therefore, or who points out what is missing, risks the charge of being the merest killjoy.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killjoy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killjoy
Noun
-
Suddenly, the Republicans were the spoilsports who couldn’t take the joke, a position stereotypically held by politically correct liberals.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vox,
9 Aug. 2024
-
Millennial workers are increasingly becoming the office spoilsports, with young people increasingly likely to be in it for the money rather than for fun, as years of economic turmoil force them to keep their heads down, collect their monthly paychecks, and fight for a promotion.—
BYRyan Hogg,
Fortune Europe,
26 June 2024
Noun
-
However, cynics have long predicted that AVs will flounder among the flocks of cyclists in European cities such as Amsterdam.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
Instead, cynics might argue, the exercise was about proving to the White House that Putin was not interested in the peace, or indeed the specific ceasefire proposal, that the Trump administration sought.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
However, Donnelly came under fire from conservative influencers and media personalities because of drag show performances that occurred during his stint commanding the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier from 2016 to 2018.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
Altogether, that represents a 5-cent drag on annual earnings per share, according to Charles.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Just the sheer, cavernous size of each cylinder – at 38 inches (97 cm) of bore by 98 inches (249 cm) of stroke ...—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 June 2025
-
The only problem was that Purdey had never made a hammer ejector gun in 28 gauge, or any hammer gun in .410 bore in their more than 200-year history.—
Chris Dorsey,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Tired of looking like the grinch (can't help the hair).—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Tired of looking like the grinch (can't help the hair).—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Hansen's voiceover is quickly overtaken by footage of massive waves and lots and lots of crab.—
Ashley Boucher,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
-
On the nearby beach, crabs scurry about — fishermen use them as bait to catch snapper and other reef fish.—
Jeanine Barone,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Killjoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killjoy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share