as in killjoy
a person who spoils the pleasure of others
if you don't want to play, at least don't be a spoilsport
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoilsport
Millennial workers are increasingly becoming the office spoilsports, with young people increasingly likely to be in it for the money rather than for fun, as years of economic turmoil force them to keep their heads down, collect their monthly paychecks, and fight for a promotion.
—
Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 June 2024
This spoilsport effort has become fodder for late-night comedy routines and gripes about liberal overlords such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg banishing all fun.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024
Be prepared to be labelled humourless, difficult, a spoilsport, and a ruiner of parties, meetings, dinners, and picnics.
—Natalie Gil, refinery29.com, 11 July 2023
Who knows whether another variant will turn spoilsport next year.
—Rajrishi Singhal, Quartz, 10 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for spoilsport
Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 June 2024
This spoilsport effort has become fodder for late-night comedy routines and gripes about liberal overlords such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg banishing all fun.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024
Be prepared to be labelled humourless, difficult, a spoilsport, and a ruiner of parties, meetings, dinners, and picnics.
—Natalie Gil, refinery29.com, 11 July 2023
Who knows whether another variant will turn spoilsport next year.
—Rajrishi Singhal, Quartz, 10 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for spoilsport
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoilsport
Noun
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But Sennott’s script is smart not to make Maia such a killjoy straightman opposite Tallulah.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
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Stay a while Another eclipse killjoy?—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The research team also underlined that adjusting dimple sizes can make the fabric perform better in certain wind speeds by reducing drag by up to 20%, according to the researchers’ experiments using a wind tunnel.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Oct. 2025
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Germany and Italy were drags on the growth rate, however, as both countries' economies stalled.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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On the other hand, skeptics and cynics tend to be insistent right now that the clean-up activity is not going to last very long.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Travis Kelce knows what the cynics might think of his relationship with Taylor Swift — two of the most famous people in America just happen to match up perfectly?—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The result was a hybrid that survived fungal inoculation and bore nuts around 1962.—
Eric J. Wallace,
Outside,
24 Oct. 2025
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Experts said the Louvre robbery bore many of the hallmarks of these crimes, including getting away on motorbikes, entering the property in broad daylight and using brute force.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The faculty experience has been that administrations often side with the complainers.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
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Recognize Quieter Customers Celebrate the non-complainers.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Key West native Mario Palazon of FreshCo Fish Market & Grill in Kendall, who has been in the seafood wholesale business for more than 20 years, says that his suppliers have been catching a record number of crabs.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
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To accommodate the crabs' safe journey to the sea, Christmas Island residents typically keep rakes and leaf blowers in their cars to help the crustaceans on their way, the outlet reported.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Tired of looking like the grinch (can't help the hair).—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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The Pompano Beach, Fla. doesn’t play grinch alone; Veeze, Lil Yachty, Rob49, Juvenile, and B.G. also appear on the project.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But renewables is a dirty word under the Trump administration, which has placed a wet blanket over renewable energy projects across the country.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
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Baumgartner’s torch—or wet blanket—was quickly picked up by another fellow Washingtonian, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, who during a Knight Commission panel discussion Thursday voiced concerns that direct PE deals could imperil the nonprofit, tax-exempt purpose of American universities.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spoilsport.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoilsport. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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