demur

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "demur" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when expressing hesitation or objection to a proposal or statement. Example: "She decided to demur when asked to take on additional responsibilities." Alternative expressions include "object," "protest," and "hesitate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The classic Empire set-up is a board meeting at which Lucious tells people to do something, only for the door to crash open and there's Cookie, hip cocked, telling them to do the opposite, flame-throwing quippy threats if they demur.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Not surprisingly, perhaps, Tett stepped out of her chair role's impartiality momentarily to demur at that.

The Guardian - Opinion

Not surprisingly, protesters demur.

The Guardian

If Mr Duhalde accepts, he would at least retain his grip on the local legislature, though his national standing would be reduced.Mr Duhalde might yet demur, and nominate his own wife, Hilda, for the Senate race.

The Economist

Johnson & Johnson's handling of the Tylenol crisis (when an unidentified attacker poisoned some bottles of the painkiller) is the gold standard of crisis management because the company simply recalled all Tylenol without hesitation or demur.

The Economist

But as European Union leaders prepared for an emergency summit this week, Mrs Merkel did not demur from Mr Steinmeier's views.

The Economist

Indeed, Mr Blair gave the unfortunate impression of swallowing without too much demur a new consensus that central banks should concern themselves with jobs as well as inflation and that governments should create new jobs by means of large infrastructure investments.

The Economist

Their momentum is scaring Labour MPs, who made Mr Brown their leader without demur, into distancing themselves from him or embracing outright defeatism a panicked fickleness that serves only to dig their collective hole deeper.Can Mr Brown reverse the dynamics?

The Economist

"The reformists are upset", says one conservative, "that we can do things that they cannot".Only on Mr Bush's third demand, that Iran become more pluralistic, are the conservatives likely to demur.

The Economist

Unfortunately, Germany did not understand that Britain did not have a lien on the whole world, and that (British interests apart) the views of other powers had to be taken into account, so that the desired territorial concessions could not be slipped into Germany's pocket without demur.

The Economist

You can read this argument any day in the NRA's house magazine, "America's 1st Freedom", and I doubt you could find a Republican politician who would demur.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "demur" when you want to convey a sense of polite or formal resistance without appearing overly aggressive. It is particularly effective in professional or academic writing to denote a reasoned pause in agreement.

Common error

Avoid the common mistake of confusing the verb "demur" with the adjective "demure". While they sound similar, "demure" describes someone who is modest or shy, whereas "demur" indicates a refusal or objection. They are not interchangeable in any context.

Linguistic Context

In modern English, "demur" primarily functions as an intransitive verb that indicates a pause, hesitation or a formal objection to a proposal or statement. As noted by Ludwig, it often appears in contexts where a party is expected to agree but instead offers a mild resistance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "demur" is a highly versatile and sophisticated verb that allows for the expression of hesitation or disagreement with a formal flair. According to Ludwig AI, the term is most frequently found in high-level news outlets and academic publications, where it serves as a precise alternative to more aggressive verbs like "object". Its use indicates a certain level of linguistic maturity, provided the writer avoids the common pitfall of confusing it with the adjective "demure". Whether used to describe a political shift or a philosophical disagreement, "demur" remains a staple of refined English prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

object

A more direct and common way to express disagreement

take exception

Indicates a more formal or slight offense at a statement

take issue with

Commonly used in intellectual or debate-heavy contexts

dissent

Focuses on holding a contrary opinion, often within a group

balk at

Emphasizes the refusal to proceed due to a specific hurdle

scruple

Relates specifically to hesitation based on moral grounds

hesitate

Focuses on the pause or indecision rather than the objection

raise an objection

A more explicit and wordy version of the verb

protest

Suggests a stronger and more public display of disagreement

cavil

Suggests raising petty or unnecessary objections

FAQs

How to use "demur" in a sentence?

You can use it as a verb to show hesitation, such as: "She was inclined to <a href="/s/object" target="_blank" rel="alternative">object, but she chose to "demur" until more facts were presented."

What can I say instead of "demur"?

Depending on your tone, you can use phrases like <a href="/s/take+exception" target="_blank" rel="alternative">take exception, <a href="/s/balk+at" target="_blank" rel="alternative">balk at or <a href="/s/dissent" target="_blank" rel="alternative">dissent.

What's the difference between "demur" and "demure"?

The word "demur" is a verb meaning to object or hesitate, while <a href="/s/demure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">demure is an adjective used to describe a modest or reserved person.

Is "demur" a formal word?

Yes, "demur" is considered a high-register or formal term. In casual conversation, people are more likely to use <a href="/s/disagree" target="_blank" rel="alternative">disagree or <a href="/s/hesitate" target="_blank" rel="alternative">hesitate.