dour

adjective

ˈdau̇(-ə)r  ˈdu̇r 

1

: stern, harsh

a dour expression on her face

2

: obstinate, unyielding

… an insistent hunger for learning and a dour … determination to achieve it.

—Walter Moberly

3

: gloomy, sullen

a dour disposition

dourly adverb

dourness noun

Synonyms of dour

• gruff
• grim
• stern
• intimidating
• fierce
• rugged
• bleak
• hostile

Examples of dour in a Sentence

She had a dour expression on her face.

the dour mood of the crowd

Recent Examples on the Web

But with the electorate in a dour mood and reeling from rocketing gas prices, some speculate voters’ willingness to tax themselves may be dwindling as ballots arrive for the June 2 primary election. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

Those losses would be a testament to Starmer’s unpopularity, his government’s missteps on policy and Labour’s failure to lighten the dour mood among the British public. —Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 8 May 2026

Half Man is largely dour and colorless, doomed from beginning to end. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026

Thank heaven, then, for Terry Zwigoff’s Ghost World, which captures all the dour hijinks and cold freakery of its source text on an all-too-IRL plane. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin durus hard — more at during

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dour

• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower
• mayflower
• safflower
• sunflower
• wallflower
• watchtower

Kids Definition

dour

adjective

ˈdu̇(ə)r  ˈdau̇(ə)r 

: looking or being stern or sullen

dourly adverb

dourness noun