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
Through it all, Stanley smirks, Criss chuckles, and Simmons maintains his dour demeanor.
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Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
The plans show defense spending next year would stay largely static, and would be funded with tax hikes amid increasingly dour growth forecasts.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Upstairs, the primary suite feels more boutique hotel than dour Tudor manor, with dual dressing rooms, a rolltop bath, and even a private yoga studio.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
Still, the overall picture of the labor market remains dour for many Americans, especially the nearly 2 million people who have been searching for jobs for at least half a year.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dour
Adjective
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Approved by The Boss himself, the live-music and storytelling show finds Azaria slipping into his best Springsteen guise for a night of gruff tales and greatest hits.—
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The gory skit ends with the gruff older man rushing through the door to announce he’s made amends with his son, only to have his head sliced off by the flying chainsaw.—
Adjective
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Another violent image now joins the grim archive that has made Minnesota an unwilling stage for national trauma for years running.—
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Continue reading … PUT ON NOTICE – Trump discusses expansion of drug cartel crackdown, issues grim warning to Iran.—
Adjective
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Several French and Italian citizens were among the dead, and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for stern punishment to be meted out to those responsible for the blaze.—
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Continue reading … FLIP-FLOP – Reporter claims Harris privately joked about question before stern response.—
Adjective
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The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Orange is a reliable run-stuffer with elite strength, and would be an intimidating presence in the middle of any defense.—
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However, the gym can be both costly and intimidating, and some people just simply don’t have the time due to work or travel schedules.—
Adjective
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Some nearby residents, including Sue Weston — the owner of Weston Gardens in Bloom, a historic garden located on Anglin Drive — have expressed fierce opposition to the data center.—
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Last year, the governor tried to increase the number of in-office days to four only to face fierce resistance from his employees and their labor representatives.—
Adjective
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Gazing out the window on approach to Salt Lake City’s sprawling semi-new international transportation edifice, Lamar Skeeter ponders his trail mirroring the rugged terrain surrounding the area below.—
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For a quiet, relaxing base onshore, check out Marriott’s all-inclusive Almare, which opened in 2024, and Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, an adults-only refuge on the island’s rugged southern point.—
Adjective
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Her family later learned that on April 23, 2021 — the day Parker found his aunt in a bleak mood — Dee had an angry confrontation over financial issues with two employees of the trucking company.—
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Some of Tarr’s most memorable scenes feature landscapes, often bleak and despairing settings of decaying Hungarian towns, punctuated with close-ups of characters’ faces.—
Adjective
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Skepticism came easily to Trump, who had long been hostile to mainstream foreign policy.—
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The helicopter the pilot was flying — a heavy, twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook — was struck by hostile fire during the operation.—
Cite this Entry
“Dour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dour. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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