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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Photo: Corcoran Sutton Place has a reputation for being a little stodgy, but this one-bedroom is pretty sophisticated.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
11 Feb. 2025
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The Green Team diversifies, selecting a few slices of stodgy pizza before hitting up the candy aisle for candy corn, Red Hots, and caramel corn.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2025
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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The team parted ways with head coach Antonio Pierce and brought in veteran Pete Carroll to steer the ship.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
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Drake Baldwin thriving in role Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin’s role has been reduced since veteran Sean Murphy returned from the injured list, but Baldwin is excelling in his opportunities to catch a couple of times a week and also DH or pinch hit occasionally.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fuddy-duddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fuddy-duddy. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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