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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Recent Examples of killjoy
While ostensibly preferable to AI girlfriend apps seeking to supplant IRL relationships, an app designed to coach men to get better at talking to women by creating a robot woman who is a total killjoy might actually be even worse.
—
Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024
Nobody wants to be the killjoy that pokes holes in the joke-makers’ stories of themselves.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 June 2023
With all the effort that goes into taking care of your lawn, watching the grass be ruined by your pet’s urine can be a killjoy.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2023
Alas, the gloomy revival by Lincoln Center Theater — complete with a killjoy Aaron Sorkin rewrite — isn’t one of those times.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for killjoy 
Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024
Nobody wants to be the killjoy that pokes holes in the joke-makers’ stories of themselves.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 June 2023
With all the effort that goes into taking care of your lawn, watching the grass be ruined by your pet’s urine can be a killjoy.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2023
Alas, the gloomy revival by Lincoln Center Theater — complete with a killjoy Aaron Sorkin rewrite — isn’t one of those times.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for killjoy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for killjoy
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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As the two moved through the scenes like a pair of tragic jesters, delighting the wide-eyed and annoying the cynics.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
16 Jan. 2025
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Thus, the Rock Hall is surely more excited at the prospect of inducting current megastars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga than appeasing its cynics.—
Troy Smith,
Axios,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Vivienne The Vivienne, the drag entertainer who won the inaugural season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and competed on All Stars 7, died on Jan. 5 at 32.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
24 Jan. 2025
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But in reality, there’s wind drag pushing in the opposite direction, which partially offsets the force from your engine.—
Rhett Allain,
WIRED,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And one of the truly terrible things about depression is its power to turn you into a bore.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2025
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Other posts recommend alternating buckshot rounds with normal bullets to clear the bore of plastic residue from the sleeve which may otherwise clog up the barrel, or alternating with tracer rounds to improve aiming.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Tired of looking like the grinch (can't help the hair).—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
6 Jan. 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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Expect high-quality Northern English ingredients — from Lindisfarne oysters to Whitby crab — served with Asian flair in a rustic dining room with an open kitchen.—
Jessica Macdonald,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2025
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On the menu are Chesapeake crab cakes, angus ribeye steak, and apple ice box terrine with sour cream ice cream and salted caramel, with wine to drink.—
Chantelle Lee,
TIME,
20 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Killjoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killjoy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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