grinch

noun

ˈgrinch How to pronounce grinch (audio)
Definition of grinchnext
as in cynic
a person who spoils the pleasure of others accused the mayor of being a grinch after he cancelled the city's annual holiday parade for budgetary reasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 grinch Tired of looking like the grinch (can't help the hair). — David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025 Tired of looking like the grinch (can't help the hair). — David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025 Tired of looking like the grinch (can't help the hair). — David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinch
  1. cynic
  2. drag
  3. killjoy
  4. crab
  5. spoilsport
  6. bore
  7. party pooper
  8. wet blanket
Noun
  • In fact, cynics do worse on cognitive tests and have a harder time spotting liars than non-cynics.
    — Jamil Zaki, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024
  • And yes, there are plenty of options for V-Day cynics, including He's Just Not That Into You and a particularly bloody '80s slasher flick.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2025
Definition of cynic
Noun
  • Those unfamiliar with the play may lose the thread in this iambic marathon as Izzard madly dashes to and fro, making the first act drag.
    — Karen D'Souza, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The musical comedy is about a French gay couple who own a drag nightclub.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of drag
Noun
  • 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
  • Within the dog-button community, Horowitz is regarded as a killjoy.
    — Camille Bromley Gabra Zackman Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of killjoy
Noun
  • Another study showed that a whole bunch of different marine species, including nudibranchs, but also species of snail, lobster, and crab were spotted farther north than their usual range during a heat wave.
    — Byrd Pinkerton, Vox, 1 Apr. 2025
  • In the Gaslamp, Rustic Root is offering Maryland crab cake Benedict, a 28-day dry aged ribeye and chocolate bread pudding from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
    — Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of crab
Noun
  • Suddenly, the Republicans were the spoilsports who couldn’t take the joke, a position stereotypically held by politically correct liberals.
    — Rebecca Jennings, Vox, 9 Aug. 2024
  • 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
Definition of spoilsport
Noun
  • Not all of McCarthy’s early plans to develop franchises for Paramount+ bore fruit.
    — Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2025
  • But screenwriter Jared Rosenberg puts him on mute about a third of the way through and that leaves us stranded with Madelyn (Dockery) and Winston (Grace), two one-dimensional bores.
    — Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
Definition of bore
Noun
  • Despite his literal change of heart, the Grinch continues to symbolize holiday party poopers everywhere.
    — Mike Miller, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Despite his literal change of heart, the Grinch continues to symbolize holiday party poopers everywhere.
    — Mike Miller, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of party pooper
Noun
  • Just wait until tech investors are smothered by the ultimate wet blanket: the uncharted territory of Trump tariffs.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The last thing a drag queen should be is a wet blanket; RuPaul is the ultimate hang.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of wet blanket

Browse Nearby Words

grin
grinch
grinches
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“Grinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinch. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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