Dour: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Dour adjective. Stern, gloomy and unsmiling.
How to say it
DOOR/ˈdʊə/
1 syllable.
Dour in a sentence
A dour receptionist pointed us to the plastic chairs without a word.
Behind his dour expression lay a very dry sense of humour.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- stern
- sullen
- severe
- morose
Opposite:
- cheerful
- genial
Where dour comes from
First found in Scots, probably from Latin durus, hard.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Behind his _____ expression lay a very dry sense of humour.
- ebullient
- profligate
- dour
Show the answer
dour: Behind his dour expression lay a very dry sense of humour.