as in estrangement
the loss of friendship or affection
the souring of the business partnership led to an ugly legal battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in angering
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
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 souring
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 19 May 2026
The souring of their relationship has at times bordered on the petty and personal.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
When Mares went to work at the Ford Plant on his first three days, he was fired, charges state — adding to their souring relationship.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Holly Wade, executive director of research for the National Federation of Independent Business, said the souring of sentiment among small business owners is directly tied to the rising prices of energy, a major input cost for their operations.
—Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Similarly, in 2023 pandas living in the Edinburgh Zoo were returned to China, a move some believe may have been connected to the souring relationship between China and the United Kingdom.
—Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Isak's partner in his later years, professional golfer Estefanía Knuth, reportedly played a role in the souring of this relationship, per the investigative sources.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
This led to a souring of relations between New Delhi and Washington and was compounded by Modi sharing a stage with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Which sharks would best and least tolerate souring seas remains an open question.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025
Ola Morris Innset, The Dial, 2 June 2026
The local election result will not affect the composition of parliament in Westminster or change who is in government, but reflects souring sentiment on Starmer's leadership among the electorate.
—Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 9 May 2026
The potential electoral wipeout may spur a leadership challenge, with the political uncertainty likely further souring investors.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 May 2026
The downturn in the president's job approval is largely attributable to souring opinions about the state of the nation's economy and the progression of the United States' joint war on Iran, according to the outlet.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Moreover, for six months, sentiment around AI was souring.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Greece probably outperformed key fiscal metrics for 2025 by at least one percentage point of output, offering leeway for aid to voters facing a souring economy, people familiar with the matter said.
—Sotiris Nikas, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
The traditionally hot spring buying season has coincided with a souring economic environment impacting the decisions of many homebuyers.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
With technology and social media dominating the lives of younger generations, Friedberg said there’s a knowledge gap in how to cultivate relationships with factories, how to use the correct terminology and how to choose souring destinations for specific product categories.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
The results are part of a larger souring of opinion towards AI, with other recent polling by YouGov and The Economist finding that more than half of Americans say AI development is happening too fast, and that the technology is largely unlikely to deliver significant universal economic gains.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 19 May 2026
The souring of their relationship has at times bordered on the petty and personal.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
When Mares went to work at the Ford Plant on his first three days, he was fired, charges state — adding to their souring relationship.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Holly Wade, executive director of research for the National Federation of Independent Business, said the souring of sentiment among small business owners is directly tied to the rising prices of energy, a major input cost for their operations.
—Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Similarly, in 2023 pandas living in the Edinburgh Zoo were returned to China, a move some believe may have been connected to the souring relationship between China and the United Kingdom.
—Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Isak's partner in his later years, professional golfer Estefanía Knuth, reportedly played a role in the souring of this relationship, per the investigative sources.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
This led to a souring of relations between New Delhi and Washington and was compounded by Modi sharing a stage with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Which sharks would best and least tolerate souring seas remains an open question.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
With the Epstein files, a feeling that has long been souring appears to now be way past its expiry date.
—Ola Morris Innset, The Dial, 2 June 2026
The local election result will not affect the composition of parliament in Westminster or change who is in government, but reflects souring sentiment on Starmer's leadership among the electorate.
—Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 9 May 2026
The potential electoral wipeout may spur a leadership challenge, with the political uncertainty likely further souring investors.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 May 2026
The downturn in the president's job approval is largely attributable to souring opinions about the state of the nation's economy and the progression of the United States' joint war on Iran, according to the outlet.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Moreover, for six months, sentiment around AI was souring.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Greece probably outperformed key fiscal metrics for 2025 by at least one percentage point of output, offering leeway for aid to voters facing a souring economy, people familiar with the matter said.
—Sotiris Nikas, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
The traditionally hot spring buying season has coincided with a souring economic environment impacting the decisions of many homebuyers.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
With technology and social media dominating the lives of younger generations, Friedberg said there’s a knowledge gap in how to cultivate relationships with factories, how to use the correct terminology and how to choose souring destinations for specific product categories.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for souring
Noun
-
Capitalist tactics—repetition, decontextualization, estrangement—were put in service of their literal-minded appropriations.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Local authorities recovered his body from the Okanogan River in Washington state on Saturday, May 30, days after his family shared their belief that Matt ended his own life after a history with substance abuse and estrangement from his family.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The Star, which also looked into the killing, revealed that Jordan’s associations with organized crime figures, as well as his apparent disregard for angering them, likely contributed to his death.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
-
In the biblical Tower of Babel story, humans are driven by hubris to try to create a tower tall enough to touch the sky, angering God in the process.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
This deeply affecting memoir, which is strung like a wire between the alienation of the assembly line and the dignifying promise of literature, documents his experience.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Mark Kostabi, the American artist whose stylised, mannequin-like figures explore themes of isolation and alienation in the age of technology, is another recurring presence.—
Jamie Timson,
TheWeek,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Weiss is betting Bilton can bring new viewers to the program without alienating its current crop of die-hards.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
Support for individual data centers already approved for zoning across the county has fallen along similar lines, attracting construction unions and school systems while alienating neighbors.—
Ilana Arougheti
June 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Graphix, June 2 Recommended for ages 9-12 Longtime stepsisters Kenzie and Quinn are closer than close—but with their parents considering divorce, the girls face the awful possibility of being separated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
One family law attorney noted to Forbes that children of divorce also stand out among couples seeking prenup advice.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
There’s no ghastly passenger touchscreen, no dimwitted haptic touchpads and no infuriating AI assistant.—
Alistair Charlton,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The film can also feel infuriating — quite intentionally so.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Here, as ever, Kokopeli suggests that clinging to youthful talismans offers no protection against uncertainty, and reasserts the odd mix of disaffection and morbid glee produced by such reactionary impulses.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Showing the disaffection for politics and partisanship in this modern era, each of the last five midterm elections have seen presidents with ratings below 50%.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
So, how can an organization remain current on customers' ever-changing needs and expectations without annoying or estranging them?—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Souring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/souring. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
