Debbie Downer

noun

Deb·​bie Down·​er ˈde-bē-ˈdau̇-nər 

plural Debbie Downers

informal

: a negative or pessimistic person : a person who speaks only of the bad or depressing aspects of something and lessens the enthusiasm or pleasure of others

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but news headlines in the past few years have been … well, grim.

—Melissa Hank

"If this is all supposed to be a big joke perpetuated on residents, I expect they probably violated the law to pull it off," said [Barbara] Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation. "I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but seriously, I don't think they thought this through."

—Associated Press

I'm always the Debbie Downer and I'm always Mr. Negative … I call it like I see it.

—Brent Venables

Examples of Debbie Downer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dratch later brought Debbie Downer back to SNL during a 2010 episode hosted by Betty White, as well as in an episode hosted by Daniel Craig in 2020 (which happened to be the show's last in-studio ep before switching to remote productions during the pandemic). —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025

Nobody wants to buy apparel from Debbie Downer. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025

The comedian has continued to make cameos over the years as Debbie Downer, politician Amy Klobuchar and Olympic breakdancer Raygun. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 30 Aug. 2025

Rachel Dratch’s Debbie Downer, star of one of the most memorable bits in SNL history for its track record of causing so many to break character, made it to the main stage — with another notable cameo. —Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025

Saturday Night Live character Debbie Downer (Rachel Dratch) returned to ruin the mood for those looking to enjoy themselves during the show’s 50th anniversary special. —William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2025

Clearly, millennials have become the baseline audience for an SNL anniversary special — a profound passing of the torch — and this special is millennials’ reward for growing up with Debbie Downer and Bronx Beat. —Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025

Don't end up a Debbie Downer — catch all the action on NBC and Peacock. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2025

Maher’s dour mug resembles a Debbie Downer; his only mirth comes from disbelieving or humiliating someone else for having a different point of view. —Armond White, National Review, 7 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

alliterative combination of the personal name Debbie and downer

Note: Name popularized, if not introduced, by a skit character Debbie Downer on the American television variety show Saturday Night Live; the character first appeared in the program for May 1, 2004.

First Known Use

2004, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Debbie Downer

• browner
• towner