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dour

adjective

ˈdau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce dour (audio)
Definition of dournext
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance a dour prison guard who didn't look like he'd be very understanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dour People have an unfortunate tendency to make this song sound dour, but Garcia fills it with energy. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 Boorman and Rospo Pallenberg kept rewriting the script (because no one really knew what the movie was about), and Richard Burton was too dour and old and hungover. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Aug. 2026 Day three of Chiefs training camp opened under dour skies and temperate conditions that belied the typical July weather associated with preseason practices in northern Missouri. — Pete Grathoff july 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Entering Sunday the Sox had won 17 of their last 19 games, including a season-high 12 straight, and had completely turned their season around after a dour first three months. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
  1. gruff
  2. grim
  3. stern
  4. intimidating
  5. fierce
  6. rugged
  7. bleak
  8. hostile
Adjective
  • His only hope to get home turns out to be Nick (Kenneth Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent who loves American pop culture and is really good in a fight.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Known for his gruff vocals, LaMontagne first came to the scene in the early aughts as a timid troubadour.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • In the generation of America’s founders, these grim realities were little changed.
    — John Curtis, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The bright side Which brings us back to Coxon Day, our collective chance right now to change this grim future.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of grim
Adjective
  • Khan himself stars as the outwardly stern but inwardly soft-hearted Etienne, who heads up the dozen-strong medical team.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The almost 1,100-foot-long warship was covered in rust from bow to stern.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • Kane and colleagues found that possessing an intimidating size wouldn't guarantee a Venusian moon's survival, either.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • An alarmed individual may coil its body and open its mouth in an attempt to appear more intimidating.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of intimidating
Adjective
  • Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns BNSF, and the railroad is a fierce critic of Vena’s takeover bid for Norfolk Southern.
    — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Aaron Donald, one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Rams in hopes of winning another Super Bowl title.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Plus, its rugged IPX7 waterproof casing easily withstands rain, spills, and outdoor grime, while the 5,200mAh battery delivers a full 24 hours of non-stop playback.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Great for more rugged adventures, like hiking through wet terrain or rainy days, the men’s Clifton 9 GTX is waterproof and features the brand’s comfortable Gore-Tex fit.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of rugged
Adjective
  • Using the pretense of a documentary film crew, the show follows the excruciatingly dull workday experiences of a paper supply company in a drab office in a bleak industrial estate in Slough, England.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
  • India's quarterly economic growth has exceeded expectations several times over the past year, defying a bleak global trade environment, high energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Terrorism wasn’t a completely foreign concept, but the notion of a hostile, coordinated attack on our soil, at that scale, seemed like something that might only happen in a Tom Clancy novel or a summer blockbuster movie.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Now, civil engineer Jishen Qiu and his team wondered if engineers could exploit Mars’s hostile climate, rather than fighting the planet’s extremely low temperature.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of hostile

Browse Nearby Words

do up
dour
dourly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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