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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of souring
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
Nothing gets me through the swiftly souring end of August quite like a vision of myself in this sweater, curled up by a fireplace with an epic that’s been languishing for years on my TBR stack.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Moreover, for six months, sentiment around AI was souring.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Greece probably outperformed key fiscal metrics for 2025 by at least one percentage point of output, offering leeway for aid to voters facing a souring economy, people familiar with the matter said.
—Sotiris Nikas, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
The traditionally hot spring buying season has coincided with a souring economic environment impacting the decisions of many homebuyers.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
With technology and social media dominating the lives of younger generations, Friedberg said there’s a knowledge gap in how to cultivate relationships with factories, how to use the correct terminology and how to choose souring destinations for specific product categories.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2026
However, the twists of its premise soon end up souring it conceptually, resulting in rapidly-diminishing returns, with derivative formal flourishes that largely recall other, better films.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
But Carrick doesn’t appear worried about one defeat souring a previously good relationship.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Carlson’s faction is increasingly critical of Israel, which has coincided with souring opinion among younger Americans—on the right and the left.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
Nothing gets me through the swiftly souring end of August quite like a vision of myself in this sweater, curled up by a fireplace with an epic that’s been languishing for years on my TBR stack.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
The downturn in the president's job approval is largely attributable to souring opinions about the state of the nation's economy and the progression of the United States' joint war on Iran, according to the outlet.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Moreover, for six months, sentiment around AI was souring.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Greece probably outperformed key fiscal metrics for 2025 by at least one percentage point of output, offering leeway for aid to voters facing a souring economy, people familiar with the matter said.
—Sotiris Nikas, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
The traditionally hot spring buying season has coincided with a souring economic environment impacting the decisions of many homebuyers.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
With technology and social media dominating the lives of younger generations, Friedberg said there’s a knowledge gap in how to cultivate relationships with factories, how to use the correct terminology and how to choose souring destinations for specific product categories.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2026
However, the twists of its premise soon end up souring it conceptually, resulting in rapidly-diminishing returns, with derivative formal flourishes that largely recall other, better films.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
But Carrick doesn’t appear worried about one defeat souring a previously good relationship.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Carlson’s faction is increasingly critical of Israel, which has coincided with souring opinion among younger Americans—on the right and the left.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for souring
Noun
-
Degrees of estrangement are common in dysfunctional families, and this book depicts their slippery, progressive nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Therefore any estrangement would have been a loss to the school, and not to your own status.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At last year’s COP30 in Brazil, about 80 countries backed a road map to phase out oil, gas and coal, but it was dropped from the final document for lack of consensus, angering many delegates.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The unique revelry was appropriate for the rising star who has made headlines by angering veterans with aggressive moves.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That’s a recipe for alienation.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Studies show some teens spend hours on their phones a day — and that the highest social-media users suffer most from alienation and depression.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The View From Letterboxd The Letterboxd founders seem keenly aware of the potential for alienating their users — just read their extremely long About Us page, which explains most features and decisions made by the company in detail.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Irving said that higher ticket fares are required for the industry to remain profitable, but these risk alienating customers.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most of the people building divorce and breakup registries are women.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
27 Apr. 2026
-
After a difficult stretch marked by divorce, job loss and becoming an empty nester, Byrdsong found peace in potting plants.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The gap between what Greg and I did—and, more importantly, thought about—became a gigantic infuriating cavern for me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In San Francisco, a Waymo vehicle struck and killed a bodega cat in the city’s Mission District last fall, infuriating residents.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
On her new single—a piano ballad of dubious sincerity—Canadian DJ and songwriter Brat Star invokes Paltrow’s greatest role as one-third of a holy trinity of disaffection.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
So, how can an organization remain current on customers' ever-changing needs and expectations without annoying or estranging them?—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Souring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/souring. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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