as in fogey
a person with old-fashioned ideas
a fuddy-duddy who thought that anyone too young to vote shouldn't be out past 8:00 p.m.
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as in stodgy
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Recent Examples of fuddy-duddy
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
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
Another group of screenwriters have mocked Ms. Lombardini online as a fuddy-duddy who hangs out at chain restaurants, the taunt being that no Hollywood person would be caught dead in one.
—John Koblin, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
And that’s part of what the Oscars, in their slightly fuddy-duddy way, can do: confer respectability on popular movies that represent groundbreaking achievement.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2023
Noun
Her characters were women whose roles often implied their own eventual replacements: teachers, fading former love interests, fuddy-duddy old-fashioned relics.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
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
Another group of screenwriters have mocked Ms. Lombardini online as a fuddy-duddy who hangs out at chain restaurants, the taunt being that no Hollywood person would be caught dead in one.
—John Koblin, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
And that’s part of what the Oscars, in their slightly fuddy-duddy way, can do: confer respectability on popular movies that represent groundbreaking achievement.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fuddy-duddy
Adjective
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The stodgy economies of Japan and the UK have become the major holders.—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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Paul and Prue are legends, sure, but their tastes have gotten a bit stodgy.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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These fiscal conservatives in the House almost blocked passage of the budget blueprint over concerns that the package doesn't go far enough to cut spending.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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None of them, a collection of swing-district conservatives from across Arizona, Colorado, California, Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, hosted in-person events that were open to the public.—
Steve Peoples and Thomas Beaumont,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the cutout neckline and darted bodice prevent it from being dowdy.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2025
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Jane and Kit stand on either side, looking dowdy in black dresses and veils (not really an Irish thing).—
Cullen Murphy,
airmail.news,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Abel, a veteran executive in the company, should become Berkshire Hathaway's chief executive at the end of the year, Buffett said.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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Outfielder Jackson Merrill is on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, second baseman Jake Cronenworth is on the IL with a non-displaced right rib fracture and veteran starter Yu Darvish hasn’t pitched this season because of right elbow inflammation.—
Steve Berman,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fuddy-duddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fuddy-duddy. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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