sour 1 of 2

Definition of sournext
1
as in acidic
causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids the sour candy made our mouths all wrinkly inside

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard things started off well, but now it's all gone sour

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sour
Verb
That 2007 campaign — where silver-colored cars also did battle with red at the front of the pack, as has happened across the first three races of the 2026 season — quickly soured at the McLaren team Hamilton and Alonso represented. Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026 Coloradans’ opinions on the state’s political leaders and on the economy have soured over the past six months, according to a poll released Wednesday. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Even before the bad economic news of the last few days — rising inflation, sour consumer confidence, and the biggest jump in gas prices in decades — Americans were in a bad mood about the economy, and incumbent politicians were trying to figure out how to talk about it. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026 While Eureka’s sour sibling, the mostly seedless Lisbon has a thinner more refined rind, yields more juice while packing a bolder flavor punch. Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sour
Verb
  • Separate blockades from haulers and farmers angered by the rising diesel prices have also shut down large swathes of the country’s highways, causing five days of disruption.
    Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The mayor's threat to raise property taxes unless Albany agrees to tax the rich angered City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
    Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The pesto and plum tomatoes add that fresh, slightly acidic taste to the tender rotisserie chicken.
    Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Having set Coel’s grudge-nurturing immovable object and Hathaway’s in-crisis irresistible force on a collision course, the film proceeds to let the former batter the latter with a mix of acidic banter, passive-aggressive comments masked as curiosity, and compli-sults that cut bone.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Along the way there are medical emergencies, a drug trip, a private jet to a private Hot Chip concert somewhere mountainous and snowy, some unpleasant business with a dog, heartfelt conversations and existential crises.
    Robert Lloyd, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The spandex-blend material is ultra-stretchy, and there’s no unpleasant digging or pinching courtesy of the zipper- and button-free design.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Clearly, those are unacceptable results.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Trump, back in Washington, told the New York Post that even the deal Vance brought was unacceptable.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In the ensuite bathroom, the dialogue between contemporary terracotta surfaces and acid green resin results in a surprisingly cozy atmosphere.
    Ludovica Stevan, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Plants like blueberries, roses, tomatoes, hydrangeas, and azaleas, in particular, are acid and nitrogen lovers.
    Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The death toll is now declining after years of bitter experience.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The bitter war led to a match Sunday night at WrestleMania 42.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Now 43-38, Charlotte has lost ground this week with difficult losses to Boston and Detroit that followed the same blueprint, as the Hornets fell off a cliff in the fourth quarter at the wrong time.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Overfertilizing Fertilizing too much or at the wrong time could potentially damage plant roots, leading to leaf damage and eventual drop.
    Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That this stalemate has dragged on this long has infuriated Levin, who considers keeping the government functioning a basic tenet of Congress’s job.
    Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The gap between what Greg and I did—and, more importantly, thought about—became a gigantic infuriating cavern for me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sour. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

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