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

• austere
• fierce
• flinty
• forbidding
• grim
• gruff
• intimidating
• lowering
• louring
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stark
• steely
• stern
• ungentle

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 movie seems to recoil from its own hammering dramatics, with Bryce Dessner’s score toggling uneasily between jocular blues and dour, overcompensating strings. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025

This was an older, edgier, and even darker Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) than the dour young girl Christina Ricci made famous in the 1990s. —ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2025

The short story already is relentlessly dour, but watching, listening, and playing through AM's digital hell is far more unsettling than reading about it. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Evidence of that is how the character's voice has changed from a dour monotone to more of a Rain Man-esque caricature. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025

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