as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a dour prison guard who didn't look like he'd be very understanding
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dour
Sauer’s optimism seems almost to be intended as a rebuke to the dour ideal of intellectual seriousness that runs from such canonical thinkers as Arthur Schopenhauer in the nineteenth century to Theodor Adorno in the twentieth.
—
Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Of the nearly 6 in 10 concerned about starting their careers, most (63%) cite stiff competition for jobs as their reason for their dour outlook.
—Christine Y. Cruzvergara, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Despite the dour setting, just seeing one of the many film versions or reading the story again evokes feelings of warmth, generosity and Christmas cheer.
—Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
This is also the main theme of the new Paramount+ drama The Agency, which has an all-star cast, but also confusing plotting and an almost oppressively dour tone.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dour 
Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Of the nearly 6 in 10 concerned about starting their careers, most (63%) cite stiff competition for jobs as their reason for their dour outlook.
—Christine Y. Cruzvergara, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Despite the dour setting, just seeing one of the many film versions or reading the story again evokes feelings of warmth, generosity and Christmas cheer.
—Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
This is also the main theme of the new Paramount+ drama The Agency, which has an all-star cast, but also confusing plotting and an almost oppressively dour tone.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
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The wartime leader became a global icon for his gruff fortitude in the opening stages of the war, but his domestic popularity has since dipped.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
17 Jan. 2025
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Anderson recalled, adopting a gruff tone and pointing toward the audience.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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An incomplete pass on a fake punt on the first possession of the second half gave the Buckeyes the ball at the Notre Dame 33, only adding to the grim outlook.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
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Thanks to the air pollution caused in large part by fossil fuels, 7 million people around the world die early each year, and that grim tally includes hundreds of thousands of Americans.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Don’t be surprised if you get pulled over for driving with snow and ice on your roof and are given a stern warning.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2025
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Commenting on the matter via Movistar, Madrid legend and respected pundit Jorge Valdano suggested that Vinicius needs to be taken to one side and given some stern advice.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Just one decade later, he's become one of Meta's fiercest competitors BYMarco Quiroz-Gutierrez January 15, 2025 7 hours ago Personal Finance A woman purchased a vacant Hawaiian lot for about $22,000.—
Chloe Berger,
Fortune,
20 Jan. 2025
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Rubio was a fierce Trump critic during the contest for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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How to merge the modern electric lifestyle with the outdoorsy, rugged ethos that defines Jeep as a brand, alongside the more recent addition of the internal-combustion Grand Wagoneer SUV's enormous luxury.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Ars Technica,
27 Jan. 2025
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Known for its relaxed chore coats and rugged chambray shirts, Drakes began in East London in 1977 and opened its Savile Row flagship in 2019.—
Denny Lee,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Matt Harrison, president of Kuka Home North America, which has a furniture manufacturing base in Monterrey, fears the future could be bleak.—
David Culver,
CNN,
18 Jan. 2025
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For many civilians, a future with both Israel and Hamas in the picture is bleak.—
Adam Rasgon,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Restaurants are making wine lists shorter and less intimidating.—
Alexis Soloski,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
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GTs are known to be big, cumbersome and heavy – often a little intimidating for the experienced and inexperienced riders alike.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, she was hounded out of the classroom by authorities hostile to Western literature.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2025
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Last year, Trump's predecessor Joe Biden fired the inspector general of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, after an investigation found the official had created a hostile work environment.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near dour
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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