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
Though his relationship with Kerr and the Warriors’ front office had largely soured, Kuminga was still well-liked by many of his teammates and veteran leaders. Nick Friedell, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026 New college registrations are dipping, with some citing affordability concerns, a souring entry-level job market, and fears artificial intelligence might make some junior and white-collar employment redundant. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The basin is a long-standing industrial hub that grew around the 1951 discovery of a large, high-pressure sour natural gas field in southwestern France. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Feb. 2026 The drink menu is divided into familiar categories — martini, negroni, spritz, highball, collins, sour, old-fashioned — and each is led by the classic iteration, followed by several riffs on the category. Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sour
Verb
  • But every time Trump takes to social media, angered by drug trafficking – or drone incursions, Sheinbaum Pardo has deftly reminded him of their working partnership, Jacobson said.
    Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
  • In one of those realities (the actual one most of us are living in), a growing number of people across the political spectrum are angered, terrified and disgusted by actions being taken in their names by people and agencies which seem to have little or no accountability.
    Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Caramelizing mellows out the tart, acidic quality of the fruit and adds a rich, umami-like flavor to these meatballs.
    Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Some plants can tolerate a range of soil pH levels, from acidic to alkaline.
    David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • When Luna conjoins intense Pluto, our feelings about such shifts might burst out in unpleasant ways!
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic and show no symptoms at all.
    Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The behavior's unacceptable, and so this is our way to try to end it or stop it, at least here in Manteca.
    Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • That is completely unacceptable.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The movies of 2026 have got it all, from iconic Disney toys and Steven Spielberg aliens to Ghostface and Baby Yoda.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 Jan. 2026
  • At the beginning of the book, aliens implant images of tool-using into the minds of man-apes.
    Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • An arrest has been made in an acid attack on a Long Island college student that happened nearly five years ago.
    Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • As wine lovers’ taste in Chardonnay has moved from ripe and buttery to lean and racy, higher-acid, more-flavorful versions have come into vogue.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Although its effectiveness as a cure-all hasn’t been entirely confirmed by science, there are a few significant reasons to consider trying this bitter-tasting tea.
    PubSubHub User, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The appearance in northwest Georgia comes weeks after the FBI raided Fulton County’s elections center and seized truckloads of 2020 ballots, reigniting bitter political divides over the president’s attempt to undo his narrow defeat here six years ago.
    Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Now Rubio was telling liberal centrist foreign leaders that their entire outlook was wrong, echoing the far-right populist opponents who might well unseat them in upcoming elections.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • And so the custodians became irate when photographs emerged of the actor Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Bessette in Murphy’s show, looking all wrong on set.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sour. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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