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demur

verb
de·​mur | \ di-ˈmÉ™r How to pronounce demur (audio) \
demurred; demurring

Definition of demur

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 archaic : delay, hesitate
2 law : to file a demurrer
3 : to take exception : object —often used with to or at it would seem hazardous to demur to a proposition which is so widely accepted— Samuel Alexander

demur

noun

Definition of demur (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : hesitation (as in doing or accepting) usually based on doubt of the acceptability of something offered or proposed after some delay and demur, the door grudgingly turned on its hinges— Charles Dickens
2 : the act or an instance of objecting : protest rather than be brought into court he will pay without demur— G. B. Shaw
Other Words from demur Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about demur

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Choose the Right Synonym for demur

Noun

qualm, scruple, compunction, demur mean a misgiving about what one is doing or going to do. qualm implies an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment. no qualms about plagiarizing scruple implies doubt of the rightness of an act on grounds of principle. no scruples against buying stolen goods compunction implies a spontaneous feeling of responsibility or compassion for a potential victim. had compunctions about lying demur implies hesitation caused by objection to an outside suggestion or influence. accepted her decision without demur

Examples of demur in a Sentence

Verb

 She suggested that he would win easily, but he demurred, saying he expected the election to be close. don't hesitate to demur to the idea if you have any qualms

Noun

 we accepted his offer to pay for our dinners without demur
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 At that time, Mayor Katrina Foley demurred on Newsom’s call, saying the state should instead shore up funding for existing homelessness efforts — such as the 50-bed shelter the city opened at Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene in April. — Daily Pilot, "Costa Mesa council to take another look at the Plant, a long-discussed commercial-residential project," 30 Aug. 2019 James Cook, commander of the expedition, demurred at first. — Richard Conniff, WSJ, "‘Sea People’ Review: The Globe’s Greatest Explorers," 15 Mar. 2019 But when asked what kind of real-world applications Facebook might be interested in, Brown demurred. — Nicolas Rivero, Quartz, "Facebook and the US Army funded an AI that can beat you at poker," 11 July 2019 Jeremy Mayer, a political scientist at George Mason University, said that last year a student of his demurred from telling the class about his recent White House internship because he was bound by an NDA. — Harriet Torry, WSJ, "Interns’ Job Prospects Constrained by Noncompete Agreements," 29 June 2019 Newsom, however, demurred, including the bill among the first two vetoes of his term on Friday. — Nick Ibarra, The Mercury News, "Gov. Newsom vetoes legislation raising sales-tax cap in Scotts Valley, Emeryville," 19 July 2019 When asked about his response to Warren’s lead among those voters, Sanders demurred. — Ben Kamisar, NBC News, "Sanders says Pelosi is being 'a little' too tough on progressives like Ocasio-Cortez," 14 July 2019 Presumably in response to a reporter's question about being George's favorite player, Federer demurred. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Kate Middleton Just Revealed Prince George Got a Tennis Lesson from Roger Federer," 13 July 2019 When a voter posed the question to Beto O'Rourke in New Hampshire last May, the former Texas congressman demurred. — Alexander Tin, CBS News, "Democratic 2020 candidates struggle over whether to legalize sex work," 11 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 When someone asks Mihalko if Chevy thinks of the new Blazer as the Camaro of crossovers, the humble engineer demurs. — Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, "2019 Chevy Blazer Test Drive: What Happened When GM Tried To Make the Crossover Cool," 4 Feb. 2019 When someone asks Mihalko if Chevy thinks of the new Blazer as the Camaro of crossovers, the humble engineer demurs. — Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, "2019 Chevy Blazer Test Drive: What Happened When GM Tried To Make the Crossover Cool," 4 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'demur.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of demur

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for demur

Verb and Noun

Middle English demuren, demeren to linger, from Anglo-French demurer, demoerer, from Latin demorari, from de- + morari to linger, from mora delay — more at mora

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More Definitions for demur

demur

verb
How to pronounce demur (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of demur

 (Entry 1 of 2)

formal
: to disagree politely with another person's statement or suggestion
: to politely refuse to accept a request or suggestion

demur

noun

English Language Learners Definition of demur (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly British, formal : an act of disagreeing about something

See the full definition for demur in the English Language Learners Dictionary

demur

intransitive verb
de·​mur | \ di-ˈmÉ™r

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