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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dour
The dour environment alone won’t win Turek or Wahls the Senate seat.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
An expensive new terminal at O’Hare Airport is viewed as pivotal to American’s efforts to change an increasingly dour narrative about its ability to keep up with the Joneses of the airline industry.
—Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
Above all, the Turning Point show was boring and dour.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Viburnum is a great example, adding color and fragrant blooms to the otherwise chilly, dour season.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dour
Philip Elliott, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
An expensive new terminal at O’Hare Airport is viewed as pivotal to American’s efforts to change an increasingly dour narrative about its ability to keep up with the Joneses of the airline industry.
—Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
Above all, the Turning Point show was boring and dour.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Viburnum is a great example, adding color and fragrant blooms to the otherwise chilly, dour season.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
-
As Woody Harrelson detailed Harrison Ford's accomplishments from the Actors Awards stage, the famously gruff actor seemed to squirm in his seat, somehow uncomfortable with praise even at the age of 83.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 Mar. 2026
-
While not gruff or unfriendly, the serious New York restaurateur carries a distinct tone of getting down to business, even when casually chatting about how the show has changed over time.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On homelessness, the view was grimmer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Hence the grim determination with which Eva approaches the mission.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning to the Iranians after an Iranian missile was launched at Turkey and was shot down by NATO defense forces.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Ye allegedly demanded in a stern voice mimicked on the stand by Holding.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the near future, keeping tabs on your digestive health may feel far less intimidating.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The willful Sun teams up with joyous Jupiter to energize your domestic zone and your intimidating 8th house.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Ferrari, once Mercedes’ fiercest F1 rival before Red Bull took over in that role at the start of the 2020s, threatened to crash the party once the lights went out.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But the spring battles for starting jobs look fierce; Warren Roberson, Kade Phillips, Kobe Black and Wardell Mack join Mascoe as cornerbacks that could make a claim on a starting job while safeties Jordon Johnson-Rubell and Zelus Hicks each could use a strong spring to make their case.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Learn more › The latest product of an ongoing Peanuts x Timex collab is this Expedition Snoopy Road Trip watch, a cool and rugged off-roady timepiece with a fun splash of whimsy.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Complicating all this is that the moon’s south pole is rugged and remote from more easily accessible regions, meaning there are surprisingly few places to build there.—
Leonard David,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For two teens unable to use their legs, the future was especially bleak.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
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So what’s to be done when things look bleak?—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Handling a hostile environment Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle said his team knew what to expect from Bobcat Ballpark.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Brasília was built from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, in the hostile climate of the Cerrado—a savanna-like biome—hundreds of miles from any highway, railway, or airport.—
Sophia La Banca,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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