1
: stern, harsh
a dour expression on her face
2
: obstinate, unyielding
an insistent hunger for learning and a dour … determination to achieve itWalter Moberly
3
: gloomy, sullen
a dour disposition
dourly adverb
dourness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His face, much like Abby’s (Kaitlyn Dever) dour, unforgiving countenance, is not that of a happy man. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 May 2025 This is one of those songs that snaps me out of the dour nature of this work. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025 For His Met Opera Debut, a Director Takes On ‘Salome’ April 28, 2025 Guth, placing the action in a dour black mansion around the turn of the 20th century, has shifted from ancient to modern times Strauss’s 100-minute, one-act adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s scandalous play. Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Suggested Reading Big Tech's moment of truth is here There's a sign the restaurant recession is already here Amazon says its Temu competitor 'considered' showing tariff charges that raised White House ire Consumers continued to be in a dour mood over the past month. Kevin Williams, Quartz, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dour

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin durus hard — more at during

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dour was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dour. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

dour

adjective
: looking or being stern or sullen
dourly adverb
dourness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dour

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