Dour (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Showing a brooding ill humor; "a dark scowl"; "the proverbially dour New England Puritan"; "a glum, hopeless shrug"; "he sat in moody silence"; "a morose and unsociable manner"; "a saturnine, almost misanthropic young genius"- Bruce Bliven; "a sour temper"; "a sullen crowd".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The old man's dour expression made him look like he hadn't smiled in years.
- Her dour mood was contagious, and soon the whole room was silent and gloomy.
- The dour weather matched his disposition perfectly, with grey skies and a steady drizzle.
- The artist's dour demeanor was a stark contrast to the vibrant colors and playful themes in his paintings.
- The dour atmosphere of the old mansion was oppressive, with its dark wood paneling and heavy drapery.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance; "a dour, self-sacrificing life"; "a forbidding scowl"; "a grim man loving duty more than humanity"; "undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his iron claw"- J.M.Barrie.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The dour landscape of the frozen tundra stretched out before us, devoid of any signs of life or warmth.
- Her dour expression made me hesitant to approach her, and I wondered what had caused her to be so stern.
- The small, rustic cabin stood at the edge of the woods, its dour stone walls and thatched roof seemingly defying the beauty of the surrounding trees.
- The politician's dour demeanor made it difficult for voters to connect with him, despite his well-crafted policies.
- The dour climate of the city made it hard to distinguish between winter and spring, as the grey skies seemed to stretch on forever.
Synonyms
Meaning 3
Stubbornly unyielding; "dogged persistence"; "dour determination"; "the most vocal and pertinacious of all the critics"; "a mind not gifted to discover truth but tenacious to hold it"- T.S.Eliot; "men tenacious of opinion".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The dour expression on her face made it clear she was not going to change her mind.
- His dour determination to finish the project on time was admirable, but also exhausting to be around.
- The politician's dour response to the criticism only fueled the controversy.
- Despite the setbacks, she persevered with a dour persistence that eventually paid off.
- The old man's dour demeanor hid a sharp mind and a wealth of knowledge.