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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Example Sentences
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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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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
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All one needs is to read the headlines today, 45 years down the road, to see that sometimes cynics have a point.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In November 2022, Kelley shared a TikTok video highlighting their role as an ambassador while discussing their positive experiences as an LGBTQ+ service member and drag performer.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rising imports are a drag on GDP. Before Friday's data, GDPNow was comfortably in positive territory, at +2.3%.—
Axios,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Again, the temperature rose far earlier than expected, and the KTB team was also surprised to find that the rock at this depth was not solid, and large amounts of fluid and gas were pouring into the bore hole to complicate the effort further.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Feb. 2025
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Eli Sharabi’s home bore marks from the attack months later.—
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
TIME,
22 Feb. 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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Her demo class features mantou buns, or fried buns, traditionally served in Singapore with chili crab.—
Alissa Fitzgerald,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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The crab was born on June 24, 2015, and died on Feb. 18, 2025.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
20 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to killjoy
Cite this Entry
“Killjoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killjoy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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