as in to anger
to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring
a misunderstanding that soured their relationship for a long time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
you'll have to face up to the sour truth of the matter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Even escalating tensions over the weekend didn't sour stocks too much on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average virtually unchanged and the S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite down about a quarter percent each.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
Steven Sloan, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, political relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE — once close allies — have grown sour for reasons beyond oil.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sour
Verb
But there’s a tricky balance here, and placing the liability onto the shopper could sour the relationship between customers and the retailer.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Even escalating tensions over the weekend didn't sour stocks too much on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average virtually unchanged and the S & P 500 and Nasdaq Composite down about a quarter percent each.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Trump’s up-and-down relationship with Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn over the past several months as the Republican president has sought to rally international support for the war in Iran.
—Steven Sloan, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, political relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE — once close allies — have grown sour for reasons beyond oil.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sour
Verb
-
Imagine the type of conviction Jon-Eric Sullivan must have in Kadyn Proctor to have his first-round selection disappoint, if not anger most of his South Florida fan base?—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Trump faces record-low approval ratings, while Washington’s war on Iran, which has sent US gasoline prices spiking, has further angered voters.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In some parts of the world, rivers near cobalt and copper mines have become so acidic that communities can no longer drink water from them.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Ideally, lavender should be grown in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline, but never acidic.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The dusty chocolate coating is bitter and unpleasant, and there isn’t enough salt to offset it.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Some of it has been very unpleasant for me and many others, especially those who look like me.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Those parties clinging to the outdated and socially unacceptable business model that relies on selling puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers are no longer welcome in nine states and over 520 localities and some are looking for a new home.—
Annie Hornish,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri denounced the attack as tragic and unacceptable during a visit to the village on Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If choosing wines, focus on bright, higher-acid white wines that cut through the mouth-coating fattiness of cheese.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This summery salad is a lesson in salt, fat, acid, and heat.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Down 3-1 after dropping the first three games, little has gone right for the Penguins against their most bitter rival, and advancing will require an improbable and historic comeback.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The bitter legal fight between Elon Musk and the leading artificial intelligence firm, OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, may come down to a few pages in one executive's personal diary.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Perhaps the owner’s unexpected absence was an indication that the rumors about my imminent demise were wrong and that things were not so certain.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
After a week where everything that could have gone wrong did and the noise surrounding the club threatened to swallow the team whole, the Red Sox finally broke their four-game slide in grand fashion and got to enjoy a nice, drama-free win.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hart’s stance infuriated some of his liberal supporters and sparked a Michigan recall petition to oust him from the Senate.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Genuine labor advocates are infuriated by its decline, which has proceeded under Republican and Democratic administrations alike.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sour. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
