curmudgeon
noun
cur·mud·geon
(ˌ)kər-ˈmə-jən 
1
: a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man
The film follows Otto, an older man who has become a curmudgeon upon the loss of his wife from cancer.—
Adrianna Freedman
Adrianna FreedmanThis is a story about a curmudgeon who is so disgruntled with life but starts to make connections with his new neighbours.—Abby Corson
Abby Corson2
archaic
: miser
curmudgeonly
adjective
… a curmudgeonly old fellow with a wurst in one hand and a stein of beer in the other …
—Jane Kramer
Jane Kramer
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
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
Those typically involve a winning team, which can forge indelible memories in the biggest curmudgeons among us.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The Academy loves a movie star, and the veteran actor brings charm and humor to what could have been a throwaway curmudgeon role.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for curmudgeon
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Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The Academy loves a movie star, and the veteran actor brings charm and humor to what could have been a throwaway curmudgeon role.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for curmudgeon
Cite this Entry
“Curmudgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curmudgeon. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
curmudgeon
noun
cur·mud·geon
kər-ˈməj-ən
: a grumpy and usually old man
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