What is a word for a person who constantly speaks negatively?

Question

Any situation, any time; this person has always something negative to say about it.

It should be a noun or an adjective to describe a person who is a damp cloud walking over every sunshine situations at the cubicle, hoping to drench other people with his miserable comments.

I considered "sourpuss" but would prefer something more important sounding, like "misogynist."

score 40 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 06 '16 at 14:55

40

In British English, "Naysayer" is common for someone who says that something is not possible, won't work, shouldn't be tried, etc.

answered Jan 06 '16 at 14:55

Ian Goldby

603

score 29 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

29

killjoy

noun

a person who deliberately spoils the enjoyment of others.

"a few killjoys try to reform the seasonal activities"

synonyms: spoilsport, moaner, complainer, mope, prophet of doom, Cassandra,

Jeremiah, death's head at a feast

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

1

answered Jan 06 '16 at 12:16

CDM

3,854

score 18 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 06 '16 at 19:07

18

Consider this possibility (definition from Oxford Dictionaries online):

curmudgeon /kərˈməjən/ noun A bad-tempered or surly person.

edited Jan 06 '16 at 19:07

Sven Yargs

163,267

answered Jan 06 '16 at 18:33

kilgore

199

Benjamin Harman · Answer 4 · 2016-01-06T11:03:48.423

14

My favorite of all time comes from a Saturday Night Live character: Debbie Downer. Ever since, when someone's hellbent on constantly reporting about the sucky side of everything, you will often hear someone say to them, "Quit being such a Debbie Downer."

edited Jan 06 '16 at 11:03

answered Jan 06 '16 at 10:58

Benjamin Harman

10,508

score 8 · Answer 5 · edited Jul 06 '16 at 16:39

8

Negative Nancy:

(pejorative, informal) A person who is considered excessively and disagreeably pessimistic.

A less aggressive synonym, similar to Benjamin's answer.

[Wiktionary]

edited Jul 06 '16 at 16:39

answered Jan 06 '16 at 19:22

Evorlor

915
2
9
15

Yet equally passively aggressively sexist/genderizing (and, perhaps inadvertently, heterosexist). Yet more antiquated (than "Debbie Downer"), not having a recent pop-culture referent. Likely best avoided, in any case. – mick Jan 10 '16 at 11:54

Jeff Bowman · Answer 6 · 2016-01-07T19:15:15.660

6

One of my favorite adjectives: captious. (Particularly since the flocking of those described onto social media.)

Marked by a disposition to find and point out trivial faults: a captious scholar. [AHD]

or

marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections (captious critics) [M-W]

edited Jan 07 '16 at 19:15

answered Jan 07 '16 at 19:09

Jeff Bowman

261

It's a great word, thanks. The OED gives it a slightly different emphasis - Apt to catch or take one in; fitted to ensnare or perplex in argument; designed to entrap or entangle by subtlety; fallacious, sophistical. – Dan Jan 08 '16 at 16:23
@Dan: It has that meaning (echoed by the second listed definitions on AHD and M-W) when applied to questions or arguments. OED definition 2 applies to people, as above: Apt to catch at faults or take exception to actions; disposed to find fault, cavil, or raise objections; fault-finding, cavilling, carping. I only included the definition relevant to the OP, but you're right that it has two distinct definitions. – Jeff Bowman Jan 08 '16 at 16:38

score 6 · Answer 7 · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

As an additional alternative to the excellent answers already given, one could say

wet blanket

a person who makes it difficult for other people to enjoy themselves by complaining, by showing no enthusiasm, etc.

one that quenches or dampens enthusiasm or pleasure

(Merriam-Webster)

The mental image I get from this is that of a group of people are enjoying a cheerful campfire, and then someone comes and throws a wet blanket over the fire, putting it out.

score 3 · Answer 8 · edited Jan 11 '16 at 23:32

The word you are looking for is buzzkill.

buzzkill (Urban Dictionary) when someone or something ruins a special moment which may or may not be drug induced and (OED) - n. N. Amer. slang a person who or thing which dampens enthusiasm or enjoyment; a killjoy, a ‘downer’.

1992 Village Voice (N.Y.) 28 Jan. 51/4 This February-December romance would allow the old gal to stretch herself past providing the show's weekly racist buzz-kill. 2003 M. McCafferty Second Helpings 72, I will try not to be such a buzzkill. If I succeed, I will write happy journal entries.

http://merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buzzkill : one that has a depressing or negative effect

To a pessimist, optimism is a buzzkill. – Mazura Jan 06 '16 at 17:45 — Mazura, Jan 06 '16 at 17:45

James B. Byrne · Answer 9 · 2016-01-06T21:59:48.937

2

gloomy

adjective (Oxford English Dictionary)

Causing or feeling depression or despondency

Marvin was such a gloomy robot that even the automated doors sighed at his approach.

or

dismal

adjective (Oxford English Dictionary)

Causing a mood of gloom or depression

Here was a dismal soul, dispelling happiness and light wherever his blighted presence was felt.

edited Jan 06 '16 at 21:59

answered Jan 06 '16 at 21:42

James B. Byrne

121

He is not just a gloomy person, he is a person who inflicts 'gloom' on other people. – Sophia Jan 07 '16 at 04:36
The definition of gloomy says exactly that: causing (inflicting) depression or despondency. The word causing implies that the effect is felt by others. – James B. Byrne Jan 07 '16 at 17:23
I wanted to suggest Marvin! – Peter - Reinstate Monica Jan 07 '16 at 18:07

Elian · Answer 10 · 2016-01-07T09:27:35.123

grinch

US A person whose lack of enthusiasm or bad temper has a depressing effect on others [C20: from a character in the 1957 children's book How the Grinch stole Christmas by Dr Seuss (1904-91), US writer and illustrator, whose full name was Theodor Seuss Geisel] CED

kvetch

A chronic, whining complainer AHD

crybaby

A person who cries or complains readily or often, esp. with little cause. [1850–55, Amer.] Random House

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Jan 10 '16 at 12:55

killjoy

a person who spoils other people's fun or enjoyment
One who spoils the pleasure of others

Merriam-Webster

I don't want to sound like a killjoy, but shouldn't we study tonight?

(His perpetually negative attitude made him a real killjoy when others were trying to have fun)

What is a word for a person who constantly speaks negatively?

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