Curmudgeon
/kɜːrˈmʌdʒən/
nounC2
Definition
A curmudgeon is someone who is usually unhappy or angry and often complains. This person may be unfriendly or hard to please, especially about small things. The word often describes an older man with a grumpy personality.
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See It in Action
A person, usually older, who is habitually bad-tempered or grumpy
- •My grandfather is a curmudgeon; he always complains about the weather.
- •The curmudgeon next door never says hello to anyone.
- •Even though he’s a curmudgeon, deep down he cares about his family.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "curmudgeon" like "grumpy" (A1 word), but stronger and more lasting—someone who is often unhappy and difficult
- ✓Picture an old man frowning and shaking his head when things don’t go his way
- ✓It’s the feeling when someone always finds a problem and rarely smiles or agrees
- ✓Sounds like "cur-MUDGE-on" → imagine someone who “muddges” (muddles) things up with complaints all the time
- ✓Think of the character Ebenezer Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol," who was very grumpy and hard to please
- ✓NOT like "angry" (which can be short and strong), a curmudgeon is grumpy more often and in a quieter, stubborn way
- ✓NOT like "complainer" (who might complain sometimes), a curmudgeon is known for being grumpy all the time
Try Other Words
- •Grump: a person who is often unhappy or bad-tempered (Use when you want a simpler, less formal word)
- •Complainer: someone who often says they are unhappy or unhappy about things (Use when focusing on the act of complaining more than mood)
- •Grouch: a person who is often in a bad mood and unfriendly (Use when the mood is strong but less formal)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: Unknown clear parts; possibly from old English or Scottish roots
- •Etymology: From Middle English and possibly Scottish origin, meaning a bad-tempered person
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe a bad-tempered man, often older and stubborn
- •Modern usage: Used today to describe someone who is grumpy and difficult, often in a slightly humorous way
Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think some people become curmudgeons as they get older?
•Can being a curmudgeon sometimes be a positive thing, like protecting traditions or being honest?
Fill in the blanks
1.The curmudgeon often ___ about small problems that others ignore.
2.Unlike a person who is angry for a short time, a curmudgeon is ___ grumpy and hard to please.
3.When the neighbors moved away, the curmudgeon finally ___ to say hello.
4.People sometimes call him a curmudgeon because he ___ to change new ideas.
5.The curmudgeon’s complaints were ___ by his deep care for the community.
6.A curmudgeon usually ___ his bad mood quietly rather than shouting loudly.
7.Even though he is a curmudgeon, his family knows he ___ love and kindness in his own way.