as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a dour prison guard who didn't look like he'd be very understanding
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dour
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
-
While Hornets fans were not as gruff as New York Knicks or Boston Celtics supporters, Charlotte pro basketball fans were among the leaders who posted a specific swear word.—
Kendrick Marshall,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
-
Paul is lovable but gruff, while Jimmy is lost and a bit broken after having lost his wife in a drunk driving accident.—
Hedy Phillips,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
As Read walked to the bench with her legal team, Peggy O'Keefe, seated every day front and center, gave the defendant a grim look, video shows.—
Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2025
-
After trading away star guard Luka Doncic for big man Anthony Davis, many saw Dallas as a team with a grim outlook for the future.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
The flybridge has a reverse radar arch that prompts a double take, while the remainder of the exterior focuses on open space (case in point, the foredeck), along with the beautiful design of the cockpit and stern area.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
-
The 5,000-ton-class destroyer was damaged Wednesday when a transport cradle on the ship’s stern detached early during a launch ceremony attended by Kim at the northeastern port of Chongjin.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
Caron was used to seeing my fiery side, the fierce competitor, the demanding coach.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
-
The feedback was fierce—storyboards dismantled, ideas shredded—but the environment was psychologically safe.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
The unexpected combination of rugged Western elements with sleek swimwear created a striking contrast that resonated with the fashion-forward crowd.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Nigel Sylvester’s Air Jordan 4 RM collaborations were some of the most coveted sneakers of 2024 and after a reported Air Jordan 7 RM instead turned out to be a new model known as the Jordan 92 MVP, another Air Jordan shoe is now rumored to receive the rugged restomod remaster.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
At the same time, others who attended this year’s California Democratic Party Convention dismissed any notion that the future of the Democratic Party is bleak.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
31 May 2025
-
The early options on the GOP side are bleak: Neither Donalds nor Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife who’s said to be interested in succeeding him, is the moderate Florida so desperately needs now.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Hristo Stoichkov played with an intimidating edge that could both win games and cross an unforgivable line.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
-
Judith Collins, the committee chair, said the lawmakers’ behavior was egregious, disruptive, and potentially intimidating.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Christian Science Monitor,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
The crowd was right on top of you there, the students rimmed the court, the very definition of a hostile environment.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
-
That’s coupled with a more hostile political environment for diversity-forward businesses.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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