1
: stern, harsh
a dour expression on her face
2
: obstinate, unyielding
an insistent hunger for learning and a dour … determination to achieve itWalter Moberly
3
: 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
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.
Jack Daniel’s producer Brown-Forman has said that Canadians pulling American alcohol brands from the shelves are even worse than the tariffs, as the Trump administration’s trade war is showing some signs of an increasingly dour brand perception for all American companies. John Kell, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Kings owner Vivek Ranadive sat courtside, arms crossed with a dour expression while watching his team fall behind by 26 points after getting outscored 44-19 in the second quarter. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Such stuff might also have new life via TikTok or YouTube, and have appeal to a new group of people who have been turned off by incessant and dour reports of increasingly harsh weather, backsliding democracy and overseas war. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025 The movie seems to recoil from its own hammering dramatics, with Bryce Dessner’s score toggling uneasily between jocular blues and dour, overcompensating strings. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dour

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin durus hard — more at during

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dour was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dour. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

dour

adjective
: looking or being stern or sullen
dourly adverb
dourness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dour

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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