dour

UK: /ˈdaʊə^r/, /ˈdʊə^r/ US: /dʊr, daʊr/ ,(dŏŏr, dou^ər, dou′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dour /dʊr, daʊr/   adj. 

1. severe;
   stern;
   gloomy:
   a dour facial expression.

dour•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dour  (dŏŏr, dou^ər, dou′ər), adj. 

1. sullen;
   gloomy:
   The captain's dour look depressed us all.
2. severe;
   stern:
   His dour criticism made us regret having undertaken the job.
3. Scottish Terms (of land) barren;
   rocky, infertile, or otherwise difficult or impossible to cultivate.

• Latin dūrus dure¹
• Middle English 1325–75

dour′ly, adv. 
dour′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. morose, sour, moody. See glum. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dour / dʊə ˈdaʊə/ adjective

1. sullen
2. hard or obstinate

Etymology: 14th Century: probably from Latin dūrus hard

ˈdourly adverb

ˈdourness noun