Well-read · Humour & insults · Character
Curmudgeon: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Curmudgeon noun. A bad-tempered, grumpy person, often an older one, who complains about everything.
How to say it
kur-MUJ-un/kəˈmʌdʒ(ə)n/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (MUJ).
Curmudgeon in a sentence
Our neighbour, a lovable curmudgeon, still sends back every leaflet with corrections.
Only a curmudgeon could hate a brass band at Christmas.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- grouch
- crosspatch
- grump
- crank
Where curmudgeon comes from
First recorded in the 16th century; its origin is unknown.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Only a _____ could hate a brass band at Christmas.
- curmudgeon
- scaramouch
- jackanapes
Show the answer
curmudgeon: Only a curmudgeon could hate a brass band at Christmas.