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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Recent Examples of dour
Jack Daniel’s producer Brown-Forman has said that Canadians pulling American alcohol brands from the shelves are even worse than the tariffs, as the Trump administration’s trade war is showing some signs of an increasingly dour brand perception for all American companies.
—
John Kell, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive sat courtside, arms crossed with a dour expression while watching his team fall behind by 26 points after getting outscored 44-19 in the second quarter.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Such stuff might also have new life via TikTok or YouTube, and have appeal to a new group of people who have been turned off by incessant and dour reports of increasingly harsh weather, backsliding democracy and overseas war.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
The movie seems to recoil from its own hammering dramatics, with Bryce Dessner’s score toggling uneasily between jocular blues and dour, overcompensating strings.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dour
John Kell, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive sat courtside, arms crossed with a dour expression while watching his team fall behind by 26 points after getting outscored 44-19 in the second quarter.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Such stuff might also have new life via TikTok or YouTube, and have appeal to a new group of people who have been turned off by incessant and dour reports of increasingly harsh weather, backsliding democracy and overseas war.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
The movie seems to recoil from its own hammering dramatics, with Bryce Dessner’s score toggling uneasily between jocular blues and dour, overcompensating strings.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
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The rest of the film takes place in a prison, where Henry’s gruff but philosophical cellmate, Gene (Shia LaBeouf), tries to teach him the ways of the world.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2025
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Fimmel digs into the more stereotypical gruff bounty hunter with relish, though the character itself is a western staple.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
His face is grim, lacking the exuberance and devil-may-care attitude visible in earlier paintings.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
20 May 2025
-
The headlines may be grim, but history is generous to those who stay invested.—
John Buckingham,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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And Hannah Waddingham gives a good, stern space-lady as the voice of the Galactic Grand Councilwoman.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
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Ruud van Nistelrooy put his arm round Amad, who wore a stern expression before going onto the pitch.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Their love and fierce loyalty toward one another is a high point of Season 2.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2025
-
Johnson’s selection came over the fierce opposition of some of the school’s staunchest supporters, who celebrate FAMU’s legacy of Black excellence, social mobility and cultural pride.—
Kate Payne,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Groups were scaling the 30-foot steel border fence with rope ladders, or crawling through gaps sawed into the old steel mesh fencing, hundreds of people a day in a 20-mile stretch starting at the rugged mountainside of Mt. Cristo Rey.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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After a rugged childhood without electricity or indoor plumbing, Robertson earned a football scholarship to Louisiana Tech University.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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The latest Email Threat Trends Report from VIPRE paints a bleak picture.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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Related article Putin just called Trump’s bluff on Ukraine, with the Russian art of the ‘no’ deal Ukraine in 2025 is a bleak prospect.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps better than any other source of encouragement, parents can make counseling appear less intimidating and more important.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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The Cosmos, like its namesake, is nothing if not enormous and intimidating.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Some of countries in the continent that are rich in uranium, such as Niger and Gabon, may be delicate or difficult to deal with in the near term as both underwent military coups recently, with Niger turning hostile toward the French and more toward the Russians.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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The game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET and Pacers fans are sure to bring the energy and create a hostile atmosphere for New York.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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