Mopers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term for individuals who express their sadness or dissatisfaction through sulking or complaining
2. those who habitually lament their circumstances
3. people who dwell on their misfortunes instead of seeking joy

Etymology: The verb "mope" originally meant to be dazed or foolish, not sad. The gloomy sense developed later, so a person who mopes was once a kind of dullard before becoming a figure of self-pity. Its earlier roots are obscure. Dictionaries generally treat its ultimate source as uncertain, with possible links to older dialect words for being stupid or dazed, but no firm ancestor has been established. "Moper" is formed from "mope" with the agent suffix "-er," which marks one who performs the action. The noun therefore names people who repeatedly sink into listlessness or complaint. The suffix is productive and ordinary, so the word is a straightforward derivation, and its interest lies mainly in the shift from foolishness to melancholy in the verb it comes from.

Synonyms: gloomers, sulkers

Antonyms: cheerful people, optimists