dour
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for dour, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Stern, unfriendly, and serious in manner or expression.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use dour
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dour expression
dour mood
dour Scot (stereotype)
Etymology
From Scots dour, likely from Latin dūrus ("hard, stern").
Full origin of dour →Frequently asked questions
What does “dour” mean?
The word “dour” means stern, unfriendly, and serious in manner or expression. In plain terms, grim, stern, and not at all cheerful.
How do you pronounce “dour”?
“Dour” is pronounced DOOR (/ˈdʊɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dour” in a sentence?
Here is “dour” used in a sentence: “The dour receptionist barely looked up from her desk.”
What part of speech is “dour”?
“Dour” is an adjective.
Where does the word “dour” come from?
The word “dour” comes from Latin. From Scots dour, likely from Latin dūrus ("hard, stern").
How many meanings does “dour” have?
“Dour” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: stern, unfriendly, and serious in manner or expression.
