buzzkill
Mood-ruining presence
A buzzkill is a person or thing that spoils others' enjoyment or excitement: Don't be such a buzzkill—we're just having fun.
The term comes from killing someone's buzz—their pleasant state of mild intoxication or general good mood.
Anything dampening enthusiasm qualifies: bad news, a rule-enforcer, an unwelcome reminder of responsibilities.
One who dampens others' enjoyment
- wet blanketOne who discourages others
- party pooperOne who dampens merriment
- downerDispiriting experience or thing
- sourpussHabitually sullen person
grouch · curmudgeon · stick-in-the-mud · naysayer · complainer · whiner · pessimist · critic
Sadness from unmet expectations
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- anticlimaxDisappointing conclusion after buildup
- deflationSustained decrease in prices
- bummerDisappointing experience
drag · comedown · disillusionment · frustration · sinking feeling · awkward silence · tension · unease
Unwelcome information
- reality checkConfrontation with actual circumstances
- reminderMemory aid
- lectureEducational spoken presentation
- criticismJudgment of faults
warning · curfew · rules · consequences · responsibility · drama · argument · awkwardness
spoilsport
One who dampens others' enjoyment
- wet blanketOne who discourages others
- party pooperOne who dampens merriment
- downerDispiriting experience or thing
sourpuss · grouch · curmudgeon · stick-in-the-mud · naysayer · complainer · whiner · pessimist · critic · scold
disappointment
Sadness from unmet expectations
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- anticlimaxDisappointing conclusion after buildup
- deflationSustained decrease in prices
bummer · drag · comedown · disillusionment · frustration · sinking feeling · awkward silence · tension · unease
bad news
Unwelcome information
- reality checkConfrontation with actual circumstances
- reminderMemory aid
- lectureEducational spoken presentation
criticism · warning · curfew · rules · consequences · responsibility · drama · argument · awkwardness · oversharing
ruin
Complete destruction or collapse
deflate · derail · undermine · sabotage · torpedo · sour · squash · crush · extinguish · shut down
- 90s Slangall that, as if, da bomb, the bomb, dope
- Neologismsselfie, blog, vlog, podcast, hashtag
- retro slanggroovy, far out, the bee's knees, neato, cool cat
- bummersletdown, setback, downer, bad news, disappointment
- turn-offsick, red flag, red flags, dealbreaker, dealbreakers
- curmudgeonscurmudgeon, grouch, grump, crank, sourpuss
buzzkilllife of the party
Most entertaining guest
party animal · good-time Charlie · hype man · fun-lover · social butterfly
buzzkillray of sunshine
Incurably upbeat person
pick-me-up · upper · energizer · cheerleader · encourager
buzzkillenabler
One who facilitates harmful behavior
instigator · ringleader · wild card · thrill-seeker · free spirit