a person who, while purporting to give sympathy, succeeds only in adding to distress
Job's comforter in American English
a person who aggravates one's misery while attempting or pretending to comfort: see Job 16:1-5
Job's comforter in American English
(dʒoubz)
noun
a person who unwittingly or maliciously depresses or discourages someone while attempting to be consoling
Word origin
[1730–40]This word is first recorded in the period 1730–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: escapement, malaria, optimism, secret service, swipe