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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Recent Examples of dour
Only this time, for the Edmonton Oilers, the feeling is even more dour.
—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 18 June 2025
The rain began to pelt down again just after 6 p.m. ET as the conditions again turned dour.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 15 June 2025
However, even dour seasons aren’t a huge concern for Scripps, which makes its money during the regular season and not the playoffs.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 12 June 2025
There wasn’t all that much to John in his first movie, either, but Reeves found something wry in his character’s reluctant un-retirement from life in the suburbs and return to being a notorious badass, while de Armas just defaults toward the dour.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dour
Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 18 June 2025
The rain began to pelt down again just after 6 p.m. ET as the conditions again turned dour.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 15 June 2025
However, even dour seasons aren’t a huge concern for Scripps, which makes its money during the regular season and not the playoffs.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 12 June 2025
There wasn’t all that much to John in his first movie, either, but Reeves found something wry in his character’s reluctant un-retirement from life in the suburbs and return to being a notorious badass, while de Armas just defaults toward the dour.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
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Audiences can often sense the corporate overlords’ gruff hands pushing these previously distinct programs together.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 July 2025
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On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick’s gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Robert Shapiro, the first member and initial chair of OJ Simpson's defense team, gave a grim prediction regarding Diddy's potential sentence.—
Lauryn Overhultz , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
8 July 2025
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In 2024, that number hit a heartbreaking 105 — a grim record for child drownings in the state, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).—
Karen Cohn,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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As the bow and stern sections tore free from one another, the ship’s contents were ejected and rained down across the ocean floor, dispersing everything from luggage and dinnerware to engine parts and personal belongings.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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The affable Carroll was the polar opposite of the stern hard-driving Parcells.—
Tribune Content Agency,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Winds, too, were fierce, gusting up to 70 mph at the lakefront, according to the National Weather Service.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
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With so many players in the game, the competition is simultaneously fierce and toothless.—
Todd Fisher,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Outdoor Enthusiasts: The RAV4’s available all wheel drive and rugged design, particularly in Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, attract those who enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and both water and snow skiing.—
Tony Leopardo,
Mercury News,
13 July 2025
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Beaches on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast The Pacific coast runs the length of the country’s western edge, and the landscape is more varied and rugged than on the Caribbean.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Some traders said the numbers were less severe than analysts' bleak forecasts.—
Sabrina Valle,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
-
No one is as funny and as bleak in the same sentence, or maybe even the same word.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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While the ingredients were simmering, Innis shared that the key to making dinner less overwhelming and intimidating for working people is having your ingredients and materials prepared ahead of time.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
6 July 2025
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By limiting the commitment to just five minutes, the task feels more manageable and less intimidating.—
Dr. Faye Begeti,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Forced to work in a more hostile environment than.when it was first established in 2019, the mission faces limited options for evacuations due to the ongoing suspension of international commercial flights, and mobility, because of gangs’ ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
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From retail shops to corner bodegas and independent grocery stores, the past few years have not only forced small business owners to confront staggering economic challenges, but also a needlessly hostile regulatory environment brought on by out-of-touch policymakers.—
Tosha Miller,
New York Daily News,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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