SOURING Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

souring 1 of 2

noun

as in estrangement

the loss of friendship or affection the souring of the business partnership led to an ugly legal battle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

souring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sour

as in angering

to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring a misunderstanding that soured their relationship for a long time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of souring

Noun

The results are part of a larger souring of opinion towards AI, with other recent polling by YouGov and The Economist finding that more than half of Americans say AI development is happening too fast, and that the technology is largely unlikely to deliver significant universal economic gains. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 19 May 2026 The souring of their relationship has at times bordered on the petty and personal. — David Ingram, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026 When Mares went to work at the Ford Plant on his first three days, he was fired, charges state — adding to their souring relationship. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 Holly Wade, executive director of research for the National Federation of Independent Business, said the souring of sentiment among small business owners is directly tied to the rising prices of energy, a major input cost for their operations. — Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026 Similarly, in 2023 pandas living in the Edinburgh Zoo were returned to China, a move some believe may have been connected to the souring relationship between China and the United Kingdom. — Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026 Isak's partner in his later years, professional golfer Estefanía Knuth, reportedly played a role in the souring of this relationship, per the investigative sources. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025 This led to a souring of relations between New Delhi and Washington and was compounded by Modi sharing a stage with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025 Which sharks would best and least tolerate souring seas remains an open question. — Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025

Verb

Per People, Oxenberg was candid about her role souring her relationship with the royal family. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 23 Aug. 2026 The industry’s promises AI companies are acutely aware of the souring views toward data centers, and several have made pledges to try and assure Americans that their buildouts will benefit the country. — Ashley Capoot,garrett Downs, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 But their sticker shock for American consumers is becoming increasingly clear – just as economic sentiment is souring ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. — Kent Jones, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 No stomping rhythms here, no shrill blasts in unison, no sweaty masculinity souring the air, no red faces. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 The souring market conditions have brought cling peach acreage down from 19,900 acres in 2014 to 13,300 acres in 2025, according to USDA estimates. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2026 The mix-up may have contributed to souring the communication between the legal teams of the companies, whose relationship appears to be increasingly frayed. — NBC news, 15 July 2026 For retailers and brands, the implications include direct attacks on their customers that can severely damage the relationship by souring the shopping experience. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 July 2026 Several wildfires are raging across Colorado and souring skies with smoke. — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for souring

Noun

The ending is bittersweet, as Murakami finally reunites with his father after decades of estrangement.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Her parents divorced shortly before her second birthday, marking the beginning of her long estrangement from her father.

— Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of estrangement

Verb

However, Gemini halted withdrawals from its Earn program in November 2022, angering some of its more than 300,000 users.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Newsom also wants to reduce payments that fire victims can receive for non-economic damages including pain and suffering, angering victims of the Eaton fire.

— Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of angering

Noun

While snobbery and name-dropping dominate, Nora’s feeling of alienation is tempered by her crush on associate editor Thomas (Joshuah Melnick) who, though only slightly older, seems to know everything about piloting the scene.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
All three CEOs understood implicitly that prior alienation of primary points of customer contact are more destructive than any mere marketing campaign can fix.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of alienation

Verb

Ukraine’s former defense minister is launching a military tech company backed by Palantir CEO Alex Karp, a decision that risks alienating Kyiv’s European backers.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Democrats face the opposite challenge because protecting communities and natural resources may come at the cost of alienating workers who see data centers as the source of some of the best employment opportunities available to them.

— Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of alienating

Verb

But maybe that low point and the unexpected departure of Stokes and the return of Joe Root as Test captain ahead of the white-ball skipper has proved a turning point for one of the most gifted but infuriating batters of his generation.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
There are a variety of reasons for this — from reasonable to infuriating — why those who paid higher prices won’t be getting refunds.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of infuriating

Noun

Their disaffection can create a culture of hopelessness and emotional stasis that lasts well past any economic recovery.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
In Mike Nichols’ 1967 comedy of disaffection, Hoffman originated the role that Rhys played onstage, so the snub was startling.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of disaffection

Browse Nearby Words

sour grapes

souring

sourish

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“Souring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/souring. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of souring

noun

verb

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