dour

adjective

ˈdau̇(-ə)r

ˈdu̇r

Synonyms of dour next

: stern, harsh

a dour expression on her face

: obstinate, unyielding

an insistent hunger for learning and a dour … determination to achieve it—

Walter Moberly

: gloomy, sullen

a dour disposition

dourly adverb

dourness noun

Examples of dour in a Sentence

She had a dour expression on her face. the dour mood of the crowd

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Minahan liked the fact that the book had an optimistic tone, instead of telling a dour and relentlessly tragic story. —

Brent Lang, Variety, 8 Sep. 2024 Buffett saw in 2016 that the outlook on Apple was far too dour, and made one of the great wagers of his career. —

Shawn Tully, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2024 This is not the case with Eric, a dour and sprawling series seemingly hamstrung by its own conceit: Its central character, a puppeteer named Vincent (Benedict Cumberbatch) whose son has gone missing, is being haunted by an imaginary giant purple monster named Eric. —

Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 26 July 2024 The southern entrance to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Exposition Park has long been a rather dour affair. —

Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for dour