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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stodgy
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 fuddy-duddy
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
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
Adjective
The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
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
-
These were stodgy firms, anchors in the military-industrial complex, codependent on the government, with their own bureaucracies.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
28 July 2025
-
As someone in her 30s trying to dress like an adult without feeling stodgy, Free People has become one of my favorite (and slightly unexpected) shopping spots.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Stewart has been campaigning for months in the race against state Sen. Ryan Fazio, a fiscal conservative who recently formed an exploratory committee and whose supporters say will catch up in the fundraising battle.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
13 Aug. 2025
-
In recent days, Fuentes has criticized Owens as well as other prominent conservatives, including Tucker Carlson and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The dowdy and shy Ursula is diabetic and has lost her eyesight in one eye.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
-
Machi plays a dowdy tax inspector closing in on a Shakira-style Latina singer for tax fraud.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Co-founder Theo Dumont has enlisted industry veteran Jeff Pryor as strategic advisor for the Dubai launch.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Alt, who is coming off an outstanding rookie season and was a left tackle at Notre Dame, was replaced by veteran Trey Pipkins III.—
Jay Paris,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fuddy-duddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fuddy-duddy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share