grinch

UK: /ɡrɪntʃ/ US: (grinch)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

grinch  (grinch), n. 

1. a person or thing that spoils or dampens the pleasure of others.

• from the Grinch, name of a character created by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) 1965–70

grinch  (grinch), n. 

1. a person or thing that spoils or dampens the pleasure of others.

• from the Grinch, name of a character created by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) 1965–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grinch / ɡrɪntʃ/ noun

1. a person whose lack of enthusiasm or bad temper has a depressing effect on others

Etymology: 20th Century: 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