Someone who is saturnine is serious and unfriendly.
[literary]
He had a rather forbidding, saturnine manner.
Synonyms: gloomy, grave, sombre, dour More Synonyms of saturnine
saturnine in British English
(ˈsætəˌnaɪn)
adjective
1.
having a gloomy temperament; taciturn
2. archaic
a.
of or relating to lead
b.
having or symptomatic of lead poisoning
Derived forms
saturninely (ˈsaturˌninely)
adverb
saturninity (ˌsætəˈnɪnɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C15: from French saturnin, from Medieval Latin sāturnīnus (unattested), from Latin Sāturnus Saturn, with reference to the gloomy influence attributed to the planet Saturn
saturnine in American English
(ˈsætərˌnaɪn)
adjective
1. Astrology
born under the influence of the planet Saturn
2.
sluggish, morose, or taciturn
3.
having lead poisoning
Derived forms
saturninely (ˈsaturˌninely)
adverb
Word origin
OFr saturnin, of Saturn < L Saturnus, Saturn; (sense 3) < ML Saturnus, alchemists' term for lead, which they considered to be very cold, like the planet
Examples of 'saturnine' in a sentence
saturnine
Victor's saturnine face was creased, and he was too weary even to move.
Thomas, Rosie THE WHITE DOVE (2001)
It was a good interview, with Jax at her seductive and Penn at his saturnine best.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)
He had ridged black hair and a rather forbidding, saturnine manner, but his smile was warm.
Thomas, Rosie THE WHITE DOVE (2001)
He had mournful saturnine good looks and his black hair was slicked back off his face.
Caroline Upcher, With James LaGarenne and Nanci LaGarenne WITHIN A WHISPER (2001)
(adjective)
Definition
having a gloomy temperament or appearance
He is a saturnine man who speaks with precision and pedantic care.
Synonyms
gloomy
He is gloomy about the fate of the economy.
grave
She could tell by his grave expression that something terrible had happened.
sombre
The pair were in sombre mood.
dour
a dour, taciturn man
morose
She was morose, pale and reticent.
glum
What are you both looking so glum about?
taciturn
A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables.
phlegmatic
uncommunicative
My daughter is very difficult, uncommunicative and moody.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dour
Definition
sullen and unfriendly
a dour, taciturn man
Synonyms
gloomy,
forbidding,
grim,
sour,
dismal,
dreary,
sullen,
unfriendly,
morose
in the sense of glum
Definition
gloomy and quiet, usually because of a disappointment
What are you both looking so glum about?
Synonyms
gloomy,
miserable,
dismal,
down,
low,
melancholy,
dejected,
downcast,
morose,
doleful,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
down in the mouth,
in low spirits,
chapfallen,
sour,
moody,
crabbed,
pessimistic,
grumpy,
sullen,
surly,
churlish,
sulky,
crestfallen,
saturnine,
huffy,
ill-humoured
in the sense of grave
Definition
serious and solemn in appearance or behaviour
She could tell by his grave expression that something terrible had happened.
Synonyms
solemn,
sober,
gloomy,
dull,
thoughtful,
subdued,
sombre,
dour,
grim-faced,
long-faced,
unsmiling
Nearby words of
saturnine
satisfying
saturate
saturated
saturnine
sauce
sauciness
saucy
Synonyms of 'saturnine'
saturnine
Explore 'saturnine' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of morose
Definition
ill-tempered, sullen, and unwilling to talk very much
She was morose, pale and reticent.
Synonyms
sullen,
miserable,
moody,
gloomy,
down,
low,
cross,
blue,
depressed,
sour,
crabbed,
pessimistic,
perverse,
melancholy,
dour,
crusty,
glum,
surly,
mournful,
gruff,
churlish,
sulky,
taciturn,
ill-tempered,
in a bad mood,
grouchy (informal),
down in the dumps (informal),
crabby,
saturnine,
ill-humoured,
ill-natured
in the sense of sombre
Definition
serious, sad, or gloomy
The pair were in sombre mood.
Synonyms
gloomy,
sad,
sober,
grave,
dismal,
melancholy,
mournful,
lugubrious,
joyless,
funereal,
doleful,
sepulchral
in the sense of taciturn
Definition
habitually silent, reserved, or uncommunicative
A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables.
Synonyms
uncommunicative,
reserved,
reticent,
unforthcoming,
quiet,
withdrawn,
silent,
distant,
dumb,
mute,
aloof,
antisocial,
tight-lipped,
close-lipped
in the sense of uncommunicative
Definition
disinclined to talk or give information
My daughter is very difficult, uncommunicative and moody.