KILLJOYS Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

killjoys

noun

plural of killjoy

as in cynics

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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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 killjoys Which poem, and why did the killjoys at the magazine turn it down? — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for killjoys

Noun

Williams led the Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff victory last season, but some cynics think the Bears are due for a regression this season.

— Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
That the earnestness the genre requires galls us cynics, who love to hide in our books, away from all those pesky bodies in the first place?

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of cynics

Noun

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
However, the Lakers are complainers to begin with and have always gotten a favorable whistle.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026

Definition of complainers

Noun

Today, its mangroves buffer Odisha’s vulnerable coastline against frequent cyclones and provide breeding grounds for fish, prawns, and crabs that sustain thousands of fisher families.

— Kalpana Sunder, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2026
Zago now pulls up cages full of crabs from his traditional fishing cabin built on stilts over the Scardovari lagoon in the Veneto region.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of crabs

Noun

Alphabet was the worst-performing of the hyperscalers and one of the biggest drags on the market, with shares falling about 6%.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 22 June 2026
Although that’s right on par with the Amalfi, Ferrari’s new V-8 grand tourer, the latest Porsche 911 Turbo S will still lay down the law at the stoplight drags.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 8 May 2026

Definition of drags

Noun

Caldecott Tunnel was first opened in 1937 with two bores containing two lanes each going opposite directions.

— Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 3 Sep. 2026
Some resorts in the Mamanuca Islands are set to lose entire wings to the sea in the coming years, and drinking water in villages is already being infiltrated by salt from seawater seeping into ground bores.

— MIchelle Duff, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026

Definition of bores

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killjoy

killjoys

kill off

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“Killjoys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killjoys. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of killjoys

noun

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