as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
just an old codger who never harmed anyone
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Recent Examples of codger
But what was served up were stale, pale sketches that seemed to have been exhumed from some old codger’s book of gags from 19 bloody 50!
—
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
My job was to conceptualize and oversee a luncheon for fifty of these luminaries—with the help of a woozy codger standing in front of me.
—Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
You meander in, consider the menu for a spell, then place your order — including the sort of beverage those codgers couldn’t imagine.
—Merrill Shindler, Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Indeed, exercise is for everyone, from toddlers to codgers.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2025
For older codgers like me who prefer golf clubs to nightclubs, a serene and charming alternative is the city of La Quinta, best known for its incomparable golf courses at PGA West and the historic La Quinta Resort & Club, another redolent whiff of Hollywood’s glorious days gone by.
—David Weiss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Popular culture’s usual parade of toothless codgers and crones increasingly seemed obsolete.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
Otto is also suicidal — something A Man Called Otto never sufficiently dramatizes, cheapening the codger’s despair as the film prepares for the feel-good ending to come.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Most residents can recite Arizona's 5 C's that have long been driven the state economy — copper, citrus, codgers and cactus candy.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2024
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
My job was to conceptualize and oversee a luncheon for fifty of these luminaries—with the help of a woozy codger standing in front of me.
—Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
You meander in, consider the menu for a spell, then place your order — including the sort of beverage those codgers couldn’t imagine.
—Merrill Shindler, Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Indeed, exercise is for everyone, from toddlers to codgers.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2025
For older codgers like me who prefer golf clubs to nightclubs, a serene and charming alternative is the city of La Quinta, best known for its incomparable golf courses at PGA West and the historic La Quinta Resort & Club, another redolent whiff of Hollywood’s glorious days gone by.
—David Weiss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Popular culture’s usual parade of toothless codgers and crones increasingly seemed obsolete.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
Otto is also suicidal — something A Man Called Otto never sufficiently dramatizes, cheapening the codger’s despair as the film prepares for the feel-good ending to come.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Most residents can recite Arizona's 5 C's that have long been driven the state economy — copper, citrus, codgers and cactus candy.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for codger
Noun
-
Dippold has populated the show with lovable eccentrics played by great character actors—Dale Dickey, Jeff Hiller, Tim Baltz.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
-
Inbred eccentrics and bumbling detectives have populated the seaside villages of Bruno Dumont’s absurdist comedies.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The sumptuous production, directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson with solidarity for Cleage’s characters, provides a marvelous showcase for Woodward to slink around on Beowulf Boritt’s glamorous five-star set in costume designer Emilio Sosa’s inspired Pucci-esque outfits.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Families with young children could ride all the rides, see the shows and meet multiple characters in a day, if lines aren’t too long, but the park isn’t meant to be treated like a checklist.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
With a turn of a crank, Edison astonished the dozen or so staffers who had gathered around the contraption.—
Ron Cowen,
Scientific American,
3 June 2026
-
Visitors will be welcomed to visit the pop-up book and rotate a crank that flips through the pages, providing a behind-the-scenes look into what makes Philly’s Chinatown so vibrant.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
This story’s author, StyleCaster contributing writer Jessie Quinn, loves a good deal and scours the internet to find the best fashion dupes, such as Bogg bag lookalikes and a Baggu crescent bag that is so similar to the original.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
19 June 2026
-
But whereas the original was designed to consolidate an American victory, this one is designed to manage the consequences of a defeat that pushes the United States closer to disengaging from the Middle East.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The soaking process makes the nuts easier to blend, creating a smooth and creamy nut butter.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
18 June 2026
-
Beans, whole grains, seeds and nuts may carry compounds that quietly support the gut barrier rather than work against it.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
After Kent’s resignation, Republican hawks denounced him as a kook and a traitor to the cause, without touching on the delicate question of why Trump appointed such a disreputable figure in the first place.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Even Kathy Hilton is like a ghost of her former self, with Jen Tilly taking the crown of doddering kook away from her.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Collins is a tough campaigner who can straddle the line as reliable party player and outspoken maverick.—
Julia Terruso,
Time,
8 June 2026
-
Over his career, he was described as a blunt, independent, outspoken politician who was a maverick, boat-rocker, loose cannon, skilled partisan, and, above all, political survivor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Richard Dreyfuss stars as an Indiana electric lineman/dad who gets discombobulated after a light from a passing UFO compels him to do weirdo things — like build a mountain replica inside of his home.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
-
Himes’ novels, like Riley’s films, also run on a bench of eccentric weirdos.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Codger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/codger. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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