sour 1 of 2

1
as in acidic
causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids the sour candy made our mouths all wrinkly inside

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard things started off well, but now it's all gone sour

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 sour
Verb
If consumer sentiment continues to sour, spending will likely follow it lower and the economy could take a substantial hit. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 Even if earnings do come in ahead of expectations, souring economic expectations due to tariffs have already punished their stocks and could continue to do so next week, Cramer said. Erin Doherty,annika Kim Constantino,yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Exhibitors’ tempers were strained by a sour first quarter at the box office, and there was an explosion of talk around longer theatrical windows, which for sure will remain an ongoing conversation. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025 My friend was so sour about my community icebreakers. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sour
Verb
  • This week, President Donald Trump froze $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University, angering members of the Elbow Patch Mafia around America.
    Christian Schneider, National Review, 17 Apr. 2025
  • That meeting angered Israeli officials, and reportedly Dermer in particular.
    Alex Marquardt, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Make sure the soil is well-drained and acidic with pH levels ranging between 4.5-6.0. Consider laying down mulch to help the plants retain more moisture.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The warmer temperatures on the ocean surface are more acidic, which favors algae.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With the present geopolitical situation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, landmines are making a very unpleasant comeback.
    David Szondy, New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In our testing, the formula feels like a gel-serum—and doesn't get heavy, gloopy, or otherwise unpleasant.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Shapiro told reporters at a news conference on April 16 that regardless of the motivation for the crime, political violence must be condemned as unacceptable in our society.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Tom Schwartz later says that the behavior is completely unacceptable, as does Jason.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In ever more apocalyptic language, Trump has sought to unify his MAGA movement with strongman pledges to defend Americans from millions of hostile foreigners seeking to storm the country and to root out enemy aliens within.
    Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
  • The film follows a ragtag group of actors (played by Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, among other stars) from an ‘80s sci-fi series who aliens unexpectedly abduct during a convention appearance.
    Matt Juul, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2023
Adjective
  • The acid content of these foods irritates your child's skin, causing redness that can look like a rash.6 Viruses and Bacterial Infections Certain viral or bacterial infections may cause multiple symptoms around the mouth, including a rash.
    Wendy Wisner, Health, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Roy Ayers, the jazz vibraphonist whose smooth fusion planted the seeds of acid jazz and neo soul, died Wednesday at the age of 84.
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The United States and the Soviet Union were bitter adversaries during the four decade-long Cold War, competing for influence on multiple continents and arming their respective proxies from as far afield as Afghanistan, Angola, and Nicaragua in order to enhance their power at the other's expense.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Then the game jumps ahead, to a snowier and more bitter world.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And it’s been even harder for my daughter, Piper, who never did anything wrong.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • However, the new price on the OnePlus store is about 50 percent higher, putting OnePlus on the wrong side of devices like the Pixel Watch and Apple Watch.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sour. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sour

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!