dour

adjective

\ ˈdau̇(-ə)r

, ˈdu̇r

Definition of dour

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

Other Words from dour Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dour

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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

Ian Fleming’s James Bond—not the suave movie version, but the dour Scotsman of the original novels—was very much a Bentley man. — Mike Duff, Car and Driver, "Aston Martin Offers On Her Majesty's Secret Service Edition of the DBS Superleggera," 21 May 2019 France and Denmark played out a dour 0-0 draw in Moscow on Tuesday - the first of this World Cup. — SI.com, "Didier Deschamps Claims France 'Achieved Their Goal' After Drab 0-0 Draw With Denmark," 26 June 2018 In the impoverished, dour neighborhood in post-war Naples that provides the setting for Elena Ferrante's four Neapolitan Novels, violence is as much a staple of survival as food and water. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "My Brilliant Friend Producer Breaks Down the Violence of Episode 1," 19 Nov. 2018 Goddard also skimps on the humor and witty banter, instead adopting a languid, dour tone that invites boredom. — J.r. Kinnard, The Seattle Times, "‘Bad Times at the El Royale’: First-rate cast checks in, but plot twists fizzle out," 8 Oct. 2018 It's supposed to brighten dour complexions and make concealer glide over dark circles like a dream. — Mattie Kahn, Glamour, "A Culture Editor's Impulse Buys: $200 of Potions, Swedish Sweets, and More," 7 Jan. 2019 From the publisher: Bill Belichick is perhaps the most fascinating figure in the NFL—the infamously dour face of one of the winningest franchises in sports. — Fox News, "'Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time' by Ian O'Connor," 25 Sep. 2018 Her Lisbeth exhibits little in the way of personality beyond a dour demeanor and flattened line deliveries. — Soren Andersen, The Seattle Times, "‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’: Lisbeth Salander gets trapped in a conventional spy thriller," 6 Nov. 2018 On the encouraging side, the video was a joke, and even a dusty attempt at humor was a welcome change of pace coming from a show whose first season was relentlessly dour, ponderous and stuck up its own maze. — James Poniewozik, New York Times, "Review: ‘Westworld’ Gets a Partial Upgrade for Season 2," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dour.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.