Debbie Downer

noun

A naysayer; one whose negative remarks depress or dissuade others.

“I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but…”

Similar
negative Nancynegative Nelly
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Meanings

nounDebbie Downer (plural Debbie Downers)

plural Debbie Downers

  1. derogatoryinformalA naysayer; one whose negative remarks depress or dissuade others.

    I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but…

    1 more example

    Everyone has met a Debbie Downer. They are filled with complaints, see everything darkly, and feel like a victim of life. And that is the energy they bring to themselves.

    2021, Thomas L. Norris, A Fresh Cup of Counseling, Wipf and Stock Publishers, →ISBN

    Synonyms: negative Nancy, negative Nelly

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA naysayer; one whose negative remarks depress or dissuade others.

Similar
negative Nancynegative Nelly
Also see
negative nancy

Origin

Coined by Rachel Dratch and Paula Pell as the name of a recurring character on the American comedy show Saturday Night Live.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Debbie Downer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Debbie%20Downer

MLA

“Debbie Downer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Debbie%20Downer. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Debbie Downer,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Debbie%20Downer.

Source: Debbie Downer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.