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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dour
Much of Episode 3, especially, seems respectfully removed from his dour point of view — not separate, but there’s less of Stephen, and more of Nancy, more from the Italian officials, and, quite notably, more kids.
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Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024
Early box-office projections look dour, especially against a budget reportedly as high as $120 million.
—Allegra Frank, TIME, 9 Aug. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for dour 
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024
Early box-office projections look dour, especially against a budget reportedly as high as $120 million.
—Allegra Frank, TIME, 9 Aug. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
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The dynamic between Callum and tracker Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), meanwhile, is your classic buddy-cop back-and-forth, with the gruff Callum slowly warming to the disreputable criminal he’s forced to partner up with when Santa gets kidnapped two days before Christmas.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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Keaton dove into the part, adjusting his posture and affecting a gruff voice with a hint of New York–ese.Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Nevertheless, many in Ukraine have displayed a determined — if perhaps grim — realpolitik at the man holding the purse strings of their military rearguard action.Alexander Smith, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
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Despite the grim visuals, hope seems always to be on Weems’s mind.Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And in Pennsylvania the Philadelphia district attorney issued a stern warning.Luke Barr, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
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Where once there was stern, pensive faces, now there were smiles, heads tilted back.Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Competition is fierce:Phoenix progressives want their City Council seat back Who is running for Phoenix District 5? Maryvale-area residents will choose between incumbent Councilwoman Betty Guardado and challenger JJ Martinez in District 5.Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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Oz went on to lose to now-Sen. John Fetterman, D. Pennsylvania is home to fierce and competitive presidential-level fighting and the Senate race is no different.Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Rather than ascending the peak itself, William opted for a more intimate experience along the coastal foothills, a scenic spot known for its sweeping ocean views and rugged terrain.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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With much of its rugged terrain a hindrance to agriculture, mercenaries became a primary export.Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Some recipients responded to the texts with anger and others with a sense of humor, but many agree that the messages seem to be a bleak foreshadowing.Char Adams, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
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The stock's fate hinges on the 2024 presidential election results, with potential appreciation if Trump wins, but a bleak outlook if Kamala Harris prevails.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In-office treatments have been around for a while, but innovations in at-home hair removal devices make the process far less intimidating and costly for those seeking longer-term results beyond what an electric shaver can provide.Iman Balagam, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2024
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Libby also often hiked the Monon High Bridge trail and was never scared to cross the bridge, which is famous and intimidating for its height and the big gaps between the wooden steps.Jordan Smith, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The recall’s organizers, who have employed an especially hostile rhetoric toward the mayor, saw the lopsided early margin as confirmation of a likely victory.Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
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In the novel, an astrophysicist, as an act of revenge for her father’s murder by Red Guards, chooses to put Earth at risk by sending out a provocative interstellar message to hostile aliens.H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dour
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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