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

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

Javier Ignacio is both soothing and snippy as the Beast’s confidante Cogsworth, a clock, while Cameron Monroe Thomas adds vivacity to the dour castle as the feather duster Babette. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026

Moss’ dour expression, over-relied upon for silent exposition throughout six seasons, conveys terror in the here and now, as well as for a future where fear is replaced by acquiescence. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 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