as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a dour prison guard who didn't look like he'd be very understanding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 dour
Others on Wall Street went after the Goldman call as misguidedly dour, which is itself possibly an interesting sentiment tell that investors don’t think fat years are followed by lean ones.
—
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024
But even with the fanciful visuals, the show is relentlessly dour, but without the dramatic chops to support this approach.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024
None of them is dour enough to drag the show down, but none demonstrates any particular sense of humor, either.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2024
Literal rain in the forecast will join the dour Wednesday in raining on Macy’s parade festivities.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dour 
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024
But even with the fanciful visuals, the show is relentlessly dour, but without the dramatic chops to support this approach.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024
None of them is dour enough to drag the show down, but none demonstrates any particular sense of humor, either.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2024
Literal rain in the forecast will join the dour Wednesday in raining on Macy’s parade festivities.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
-
After a long bout of gruff banter, Frank gets personal, invoking his dead son, Joseph.Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
-
The actress uncovers enough credibility in the character to withstand the syrupy sports drama’s conventions, offsetting the gruff Eastwoodisms on which the film is built. 19.Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Viewers watched as Berghoff spilled chilling anecdotes of her experiences, painting a grim picture of the dangers lurking in the digital dating pool.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
-
The larger picture is especially grim: Settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has leaped, as reported by the Israeli media and human-rights groups.Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Corenswet is perfect as a younger, less chiseled, less stern version of Superman.Erik Kain, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
-
Freeland, on the other hand, has advocated a much tougher approach to Trump, one more in line with the stern response of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, the outspoken actor highly regarded as one of the industry's fiercest defenders of women.Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Enticing notes of lemon confit, citrus blossom and a saline minerality make one yearn for the sea with subtle flavors of nectarine and chamomile tea on the palate with a fierce mineral finish and mouthwatering acidity that is impressive.Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The West Coast Fishing Club is loved for serving as a rugged haven on British Columbia’s remote ancestral and unceded territory of the Haida Nation in Haida Gwaii, surrounded by dramatic coastal landscapes and teeming with wildlife.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Lightning from rare coastal thunderstorms that rolled over the rugged, unsettled land would strike mountaintops, sometimes igniting a fire.Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Remember, this was a pretty bleak time for basic cable.Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
-
The reality that the Giants have four more games of this despair is painfully bleak.Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Only six years older than Crystal, the comedian still found Scorsese intimidating.Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
-
But what’s really intimidating is looking at his size-21 shoes.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
In story mode, there are a few other people to find on the island, some of whom will be helpful and others hostile.Jason Bennett, arkansasonline.com, 15 Dec. 2024
-
Trump’s power derives from his ability to sow fear — fear that his administration will deport our immigrant neighbors, arrest opponents, attack LGBTQ+ rights, ban vaccines, and command the military to invade hostile cities.Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dour
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share