sour 1 of 2

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
But as Trump signaled support for Israel and the possibility of U.S. involvement, Carlson’s view on the president’s decision making has appeared to sour. Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 17 June 2025 Within a few years, attitudes had soured toward both Sandberg and leaning in. Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
Adjective
The exhibit became the main discussion topic amongst his peers and Claude, scowling and sour about missing it, chewed his lower lip waiting patiently for the subject to change. Hazlitt, 18 June 2025 Dating back to Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in the late 1800s, Taylor recommends using Bing, sour or Rainier cherry varieties for the boozy dessert. Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sour
Verb
  • Cambodia angered by neighbor’s new restrictions on border crossings PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia's government on Tuesday accused Thailand of escalating border tensions by imposing new restrictions that have blocked almost all land crossings, especially for tourists heading into Cambodia.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 June 2025
  • As a mom, I’m angered at the existence of so many abusers who lure children through the internet.
    Nicole Russell, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Rowling frequently posts acidic commentary about trans people, and very rarely about the upcoming Harry Potter series (oddly enough, Rowling still publishes crime fiction under her male pseudonym, Robert Galbraith).
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Rainfall leaches elements that impart alkalinity, such as magnesium and calcium, out of the soil, rendering it acidic.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some of these vitamins have quality issues, like a fishy or unpleasant taste.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
  • Diana, for example, when anything unpleasant was said in her presence, would slowly blink her eyes in an incredible act of denial.
    Rosemary Counter, Time, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, an unacceptable state of affairs persists.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
  • The latest version of a controversial bill that would require the sale of federal land to pay for tax cuts limits the scope of Bureau of Land Management property eligible for sale, but remains unacceptable to hunting, fishing, and conservation leaders.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • In ever more apocalyptic language, Trump has sought to unify his MAGA movement with strongman pledges to defend Americans from millions of hostile foreigners seeking to storm the country and to root out enemy aliens within.
    Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
  • The film follows a ragtag group of actors (played by Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, among other stars) from an ‘80s sci-fi series who aliens unexpectedly abduct during a convention appearance.
    Matt Juul, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2023
Adjective
  • The floors are done in chestnut-toned wood, with acid green carpets made from bamboo silk, while the VVIP suite has its own private sitting room.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 11 June 2025
  • Fluoride also replaces minerals lost from teeth due to acid breakdown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • But the two mainstays of the game are far from bitter rivals.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
  • Pashinyan was the focus of protests last year by tens of thousands of demonstrators after Armenia agreed to hand over control of several border villages to Azerbaijan and to normalize relations between the neighbors and bitter rivals.
    Avet Demourian, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • One of the company’s big assumptions about the phone had turned out to be wrong.
    Verne Kopytoff, Fortune, 5 July 2025
  • However, according to the Baseball Rules Academy, the umpires got the call wrong.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sour. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sour

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!