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
Quinnipiac also found that Americans’ thoughts have soured toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis last week. Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2026 The mood had soured among many of his former colleagues. Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The analyst’s optimism is also backed by its acid-gas injection project, planned for late 2026, which will open access to more sour gas and ease utilization constraints in the Delaware system. Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026 In the worst cases, opened wine can develop a sour, vinegary taste. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sour
Verb
  • With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.
    Justin Worland, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.
    Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • However, foil isn't naturally nonstick and can react with acidic foods.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Balsam fir is native to moist woods and prefers well-draining, acidic soil over dense, clay soil.
    Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Using a speaker outside the stall results in reverb and echoing as the music bounces around the bathroom walls, making the sound muddy and unpleasant.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Given the lack of gravity, even a runny nose can turn into an extremely unpleasant experience, forcing astronauts to resort to unusual measures just to drain mucus from their nasal passages.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The European Union’s defense commissioner raised the prospect of a 100-thousand strong European army in a January speech, an idea previously dismissed as unworkable and political unacceptable in the bloc.
    Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
  • For a game as complex and fast-paced as professional football, this lack of year-round preparation is unacceptable.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 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
  • Savannah police and the FBI are continuing to follow any possible leads to find whoever is responsible for the acid attack in a local park that left a woman with severe burns.
    Dan Raby, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
  • If acid soil-loving plants are not thriving, have the soil tested and amend the pH with elemental sulfur.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Pair it with a small, dessert-sized Greek coffee, which isn’t as bitter as espresso, for a perfect treat yourself moment under $10.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
  • That includes losing to their bitter rivals with the biggest playoff collapse in franchise history.
    Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The candidacy challenge contends that Wilcox used the wrong form to file for office in December and left off information that was required.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2026
  • An Amazon driver accompanied by her 16-year-old son came under fire after accidentally stopping at the wrong house in rural North Carolina, according to investigators.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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