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spoilsport

/ˌspɔɪlˈspɔrt/
IPA guide

Other forms: spoilsports

A spoilsport is a person who ruins other people's fun. You know: the girl shushing everyone at a sleepover party, the kid who refuses to play when it comes their turn to be "it."

Back before it meant organized athletics, sport meant games or joking. Instead of making fun of someone, you'd be "making sport" of them. So someone who spoils or wrecks the fun or sport of others is a spoilsport. Calling someone a spoilsport, though, is often just a way to pressure them to do something everyone knows is wrong.

Definitions of spoilsport
  1. noun
    someone who spoils the pleasure of others
    see moresee less
    types:
    fuss-budget, fusspot, worrier, worrywart
    thinks about unfortunate things that might happen
    type of:
    persona non grata, unwelcome person
    a person who for some reason is not wanted or welcome
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘spoilsport'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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