as in spoilsport
a person who spoils the pleasure of others
his perpetually negative attitude made him a real killjoy when others were trying to have fun
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of killjoy
Nauseatingly innocent and a self-righteous killjoy, April seems to have existed solely for the purpose of making everyone else on Grey's Anatomy look worlds more interesting.
—
Marc Snetiker, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Oct. 2025
The Civil War, which is jeopardizing his presidency, has turned him into an utter killjoy.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Without being a complete spoiler-lobbing killjoy, this is a story heavily marinated in trauma, with an emphasis on two parties’ checkered past in particular.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2025
Montana, the Badgers’ opening-round foe, Big Sky champs and perennial Greeley killjoys, are already used to running around at altitude.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killjoy
Marc Snetiker, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Oct. 2025
The Civil War, which is jeopardizing his presidency, has turned him into an utter killjoy.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Without being a complete spoiler-lobbing killjoy, this is a story heavily marinated in trauma, with an emphasis on two parties’ checkered past in particular.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2025
Montana, the Badgers’ opening-round foe, Big Sky champs and perennial Greeley killjoys, are already used to running around at altitude.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for killjoy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killjoy
Noun
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Granted, this might simply be an old-fashioned spoilsport way to view the market.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
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No one likes a spoilsport, apparently.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In a real life departure, cynics would say, truth is rewarded in the tests.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
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The belief by cynics is that Netflix wants to be a streaming service.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Economic drag At home, the toll of the Ukraine war has effectively removed Russia from the ranks of the world’s economic powers, according to the report.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Grejo snapped his fingers for the cigarettes to be passed and lit one, but after a single long drag, Adi noticed, never smoked it again, instead clasping it between his fingers like a personal incense stick.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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If family needs cause drama, set kind boundaries and explain them to any complainers.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2026
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The faculty experience has been that administrations often side with the complainers.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Court records viewed by NBC News revealed that the sequence of events that left Ross bloodied and bruised bore some similarities to the scenario that ended with Good’s death.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
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Games that are too easy bore older players, while overly complex games can frustrate younger ones.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Popular Science,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The nonprofit donated almost $200,000 to the church for the materials a grinch stole.—
Dawn White,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
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To play off the flavor of the candy, the grinch-green dough has a subtle cinnamon flavor of its own.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
30 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Its menu features a wide variety of options for seafood lovers, including crab cakes, sablefish, pan-seared scallops, and a French onion filet.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Many eventually settled in North Beach, or Little Italy, and wound up catching salmon in the summer and crab in the winter.—
Becky Duffett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Killjoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killjoy. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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