Demur
/dɪˈmɜːr/
verbnounC1
Definition
Demur means to express a polite or formal disagreement or doubt about something someone said or suggested. When you demur, you do not say "no" strongly, but you show that you are not sure or you do not agree fully. As a noun, a demur is the action of showing this polite refusal or hesitation.
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See It in Action
Verb: To politely express doubt or disagreement
- •She demurred when asked to join the project because she was busy.
- •He demurred at the suggestion, wanting more information first.
- •They demurred politely, not wanting to offend anyone.
Noun: The act of showing polite disagreement or hesitation
- •His demur surprised everyone because he usually agrees quickly.
- •There was a brief demur before the group accepted the plan.
- •The lawyer raised a demur to the evidence presented.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "demur" like "say no," but in a softer, more polite way—not a clear "no," but a gentle "I am not sure"
- ✓Picture someone raising one eyebrow and saying, "Well, maybe..." quietly, instead of shouting "No!"
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to disagree but you do not want to be rude or cause a fight
- ✓Sounds like "de-MUR" → imagine murmuring quietly to yourself, softly disagreeing without loud words
- ✓Imagine a polite conversation where people do not argue loudly but show their doubts carefully
- ✓NOT like "refuse" (strong and direct "no"), demur is soft and polite hesitation or doubt
- ✓NOT like "agree," demur means to hesitate or object politely
- ✓NOT like "complain," because demur is more formal and less emotional—it’s a calm, polite objection
Try Other Words
- •Object: to say you do not agree or approve (Use when you want to express clear disagreement, sometimes stronger than "demur")
- •Hesitate: to pause before doing something because of doubt or uncertainty (Use when the focus is on delay or uncertainty, not on polite disagreement)
- •Protest: to strongly disagree or complain (Use when disagreement is strong and public, unlike the gentle "demur")
- •Raise an objection: to politely say you do not agree (Use in formal or legal contexts, similar to "demur")
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; root is "demur")
- •Etymology: From Latin "demorari" meaning "to delay, hesitate"
- •Historical development: Entered English in the late 1500s with the meaning of hesitation or delay in agreeing
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in formal speech or writing to mean polite objection or hesitation, often in legal or polite conversation
Reflect & Connect
•When is it better to demur rather than say no directly in a conversation?
•How can using demur help keep a conversation polite even when people disagree?
Fill in the blanks
1.She demurred ___ joining the meeting because she had other plans.
2.The manager demurred ___ the proposal until more details were provided.
3.Unlike a strong refusal, to demur is to show ___ or polite disagreement.
4.In court, the lawyer raised a demur ___ the evidence being accepted.
5.People often demur ___ ideas when they want to avoid direct conflict.
6.When he demurred, it showed he was not fully ___ with the decision.
7.Demur is different from protest because it is more ___ and less forceful.