nudnik
noun
Did you know?
The suffix -nik came to English through Yiddish (and ultimately from Polish and Ukrainian). It means "one connected with or characterized by being." You might be familiar with beatnik, peacenik, or neatnik, but what about no-goodnik or allrightnik? The suffix -nik is frequently used in English to create nonce words that are often jocular or slightly derogatory. Some theorize that the popularity of the suffix was enhanced by Russian Sputnik, as well as Al Capp's frequent use of -nik words in his L'il Abner cartoons. The nud- of the Yiddish borrowing nudnik ultimately comes from the Polish nuda, meaning "boredom."
Synonyms
- annoyance
- annoyer
- bother
- gadfly
- gnawer
- nuisance
- pain
- persecutor
- pest
- tease
- teaser
Example Sentences
Philly.com, 13 Sep. 2017 Word History
Yiddish nudnik, from nudyen to bore, from Polish nudzić, from nuda boredom
1916, in the meaning defined above
nudniks
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- nuisances
- annoyers
- gadflies
- annoyances
- teases
- gnawers
- pains
- persecutors
- pests
- tormenters
- bothers
- teasers
- torturers
- hecklers
- headaches
- harassers
- pains in the neck
- tormentors
- interrupters
- plagues
- interruptors
- molesters
- harriers
- hassles
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- charmers
- comforters
- smoothies
- soothers
- solacers
Synonyms & Similar Words
- bores
- snoozers
- droners
- yawns
- yawners
- drips
- snoozes
- downers
- dullsvilles
- bummers
- drags
- bromides
- pills
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blasts
- kicks
- gases
- rushes
- gasses
- uppers
