noun
grinch
grihnch
noun
1
A grumpy, joyless person who spoils others' fun, especially around the holidays.
"Don't be such a grinch — come join the party!"
How to Use Grinch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA modern nickname for anyone who acts like a grump and ruins the festive mood.
Common pairings
act like a grinch
a real grinch
don't be a grinch
Word Forms
grinched past tense, grinches plural, grinches singular
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Etymology
Named after the grumpy title character of Dr. Seuss's 1957 book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" — the character's name has since become a generic term for any holiday killjoy.