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 longtime friend Bernie, slight, dour, and prone to terse stabs at gallows humor, was the deal-maker.
—
Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
The firm blamed the dour outlook for airline stocks on declining consumer and corporate confidence along with fears about tariffs.
—Kevin Williams, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025
And yet, articles on Ramadan food in America are often dour and boring.
—Zahir Janmohamed, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
Did Clay dream this white woman up, or is this dour manic pixie dream girl only a literary device, the movie itself dreaming, whose attention-getting silhouette is also meant to call attention to her own artifice as a writer’s creation?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dour
Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
The firm blamed the dour outlook for airline stocks on declining consumer and corporate confidence along with fears about tariffs.
—Kevin Williams, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025
And yet, articles on Ramadan food in America are often dour and boring.
—Zahir Janmohamed, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
Did Clay dream this white woman up, or is this dour manic pixie dream girl only a literary device, the movie itself dreaming, whose attention-getting silhouette is also meant to call attention to her own artifice as a writer’s creation?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
-
The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
His grim work handling dead sheep gives the movie its title, but little time is actually spent at Stan’s job.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Set in a grim, unnamed American city, Havoc follows a bruised detective, played by Hardy, who must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son, all while unraveling the deep layers of corruption.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Raid 2, for instance, a two and a half hour crime and punishment epic, boils down to one man’s struggle to win the approval of his stern father; whether this is significant to Evans’ life or not, the motif nonetheless transitions cleanly into Havoc.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
-
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has issued a stern warning about a predatory fish that can grow up to 3 feet long, slither across land and breathe air.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Melania Trump has courted controversy, garnered attention for her fashion Trump's fashion choices are the subject of fierce controversy and constant attention.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Seven new projects debut on the 15-spot roster, making competition surprisingly fierce.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Premiering April 20 on Nat Geo and streaming April 21 on Disney+ and Hulu, the three-part series is a visual triumph made possible by engineering grit, field science, and the kind of rugged tech innovation typically reserved for space exploration.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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Unveiled at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, this futuristic machine is built to handle rugged terrain with ease, combining cutting-edge robotics and sustainable energy.—
Fox News Staff,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The observations from Drewry’s and Moody’s, as well as the scenario floated by McCown, follow a bleak outlook for the middle of May out of the biggest port in the U.S.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Apr. 2025
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That followed a desperate period in which a bleak financial picture forced the resignation of CEO Anders Jensen.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While the prospect of facing Augusta National’s treacherous greens under major championship conditions would be overwhelmingly intimidating for most amateur golfers, McDermott is a unique case, to say the least.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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Rory McIlroy commented on the missing trees on ten, apparently making the tee shot less intimidating — and that there is a little more room on the par-four third right side given the missing overhanging trees.—
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
John Shine described to me a research trip to the hostile mountain environs of Tasmania, where snakes stay under cover except for the 20 or 30 warm days each year.—
Stephen S. Hall,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
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Union members shared other experiences and stories, including those of an increasingly hostile work environment for some.—
Molly Guthrey,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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