curmudgeon

noun

(ˌ)kər-ˈmə-jən How to pronounce curmudgeon (audio)
Definition of curmudgeonnext
as in crab
an irritable and complaining person only a curmudgeon would object to the nursing home's holiday decorations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 curmudgeon In the new horror-comedy series, Root portrays a curmudgeon trying to convince Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) not to open their small island up to tourism. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026 Though Sam is a card-carrying curmudgeon, his next-door neighbor Jack (Bill Pullman) isn’t deterred from inviting him over for a barbecue. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 May 2026 While some filmmakers, like Darren Aronofsky, considered his harsh critiques a badge of honor, Reed's colleagues remembered him as more than just a curmudgeon. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 12 May 2026 The David Hockney–esque Julian was a star of the ’60s and ’70s but has spent the past three decades in prolonged retreat, living off his notoriety and persona as an art curmudgeon — first as a judge on a reality-competition show and, more recently, on Cameo. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curmudgeon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curmudgeon
  1. crab
  2. complainer
  3. bear
  4. crank
  5. grump
Noun
  • Then, the very next day, Mars will march into the courageous sign of Leo, trading the crab’s defensive and hyper-protective instincts for bold self-expression and a whole lot of swag!
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this year, more than a hundred thousand bots joined a social network, Moltbook, and, within seventy-two hours, created a religion called Crustafarianism, which came to involve the worship of crabs.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of crab
Noun
  • My ‘Deborah Vance Show senior writer’ persona was kind of a rude complainer with an incipient alcohol problem.
    — Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Are they deluded into thinking that the complainers are just a squeaky wheel minority and the majority of fans are happy with it?
    — Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of complainer
Noun
  • The loss came as such clashes are increasing, with climate change and urban sprawl bringing people closer to bears, mountain lions and other animals.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • As the fight between market bulls and bears over the direction of the S & P 500 index intensifies, the bears could prevail, according to global financial services firm BTIG.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of bear
Noun
  • Many spent their days suspended from steel cables, raised and lowered along the mountainside by hand cranks.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The engine features a flat-plane crank that Mercedes-Benz AMG said reduces rotating mass and improves revving characteristics.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of crank
Noun
  • While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.
    — Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
  • Youngman said Adelman was misunderstood and mischaracterized as something of a grump without personality.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Definition of grump

Browse Nearby Words

curly
curmudgeon
curmudgeonliness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curmudgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curmudgeon. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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