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

The album’s volley of astute re-creations of this idea sometimes gets in the way of Styles’s attempt to relay sadness or dour self-reflection. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026

But the evening was anything but dour, and most of the color over the course of the night came from the stage. —Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2026

For those in the crowd, the mood was dour. —Dan Mangan,garrett Downs,spencer Kimball,megan Sauer, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026

Both Moody and her predecessor, Pam Bondi, had long careers anchored in the dour courtrooms of the Hillsborough County Courthouse Annex — Moody as a judge who oversaw thousands of felony cases, Bondi as a homicide prosecutor. —Dan Sullivan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 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