Killjoys

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person, especially one who spoils the enjoyment of others; someone who dampens enthusiasm or fun in social situations; an individual whose actions or demeanor prevent others from having a good time
2. Someone who consistently embodies a negative attitude that affects the enjoyment of a group; a figure whose presence leads to a reduction in the happiness or merriment of others; a character known for their ability to diminish lively atmospheres
3. An entity that brings a sense of gloom or restrictions to celebrations and jovial interactions; one whose habits or opinions discourage fun and progress; a personality trait characterized by a lack of humor or cheerfulness

Etymology: "Killjoys" is the plural of "killjoy," and the second half is the surprise. "Joy" here is the ordinary word, but "kill" is the verb meaning to put an end to something, so the compound literally means someone who ends joy. The earlier form was "kill-joy," and English writers treated it as a single noun by the 1600s. The word is a compound formed in English from those two plain elements, not a borrowing, and its exact first appearance in print is uncertain. It is usually associated with the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when it was used for a spoiler of pleasure. The "kill" in such compounds had a long tradition of attaching to a thing it destroys, which is why English also has words like "spoilsport" that carry the same sense of ruining others' fun.

Synonyms: spoilsport, party pooper, wet blanket, buzzkill, naysayer

Antonyms: merrymaker, celebrator, enthusiast