fuddy-duddy
noun
fud·dy-dud·dy
ˈfə-dē-ˌdə-dē 
plural fuddy-duddies
: one that is old-fashioned, unimaginative, or conservative
fuddy-duddy
adjective
Synonyms of fuddy-duddy
Examples of fuddy-duddy in a Sentence
a fuddy-duddy who thought that anyone too young to vote shouldn't be out past 8:00 p.m.
Recent Examples on the Web
How consumers -- especially younger drinkers -- answer them will determine whether an industry long defined by fuddy-duddy pretense can find its footing in 2026 and beyond.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
In the years that followed, American landscape painting was shuffled off to storage to make room for modernism, and paintings like Church’s, with their glassy finishes and profuse detail, came to seem the embodiment of fuddy-duddy.
—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
For someone who’s constantly on speakerphone, Tommy sure is a fuddy-duddy about using it correctly.
—
William Earl,
Variety,
30 Nov. 2025
To some, Superman is a fuddy-duddy in a cape.
—
Ken Makin,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 July 2025
The good news is that for every fuddy-duddy like myself who can’t seem to get on board with crowdfunding kids’ lives, there are twice as many generous, kind-hearted individuals willing to give a little—or a lot—toward schools, sports, and charities.
—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
3 Feb. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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ABC News,
22 June 2026
In the years that followed, American landscape painting was shuffled off to storage to make room for modernism, and paintings like Church’s, with their glassy finishes and profuse detail, came to seem the embodiment of fuddy-duddy.
—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
For someone who’s constantly on speakerphone, Tommy sure is a fuddy-duddy about using it correctly.
—
William Earl,
Variety,
30 Nov. 2025
To some, Superman is a fuddy-duddy in a cape.
—
Ken Makin,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 July 2025
The good news is that for every fuddy-duddy like myself who can’t seem to get on board with crowdfunding kids’ lives, there are twice as many generous, kind-hearted individuals willing to give a little—or a lot—toward schools, sports, and charities.
—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
3 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fuddy-duddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuddy-duddy. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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