Definition

The quality of being serious, gloomy, or unfriendly.

Example

His dourness made it difficult for others to approach him.

Conversation

Have you noticed how much dourness there is in that new movie we watched?

Yeah, it really brought down the mood for me.

I thought a little gloominess could add depth, but it was overwhelming.

Exactly! Sometimes, too much dourness just makes it hard to enjoy.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dourness is derived from "dour" (from Old French *dour*, meaning hard or stern) and the suffix "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "dourness" refers to the quality of being stern or gloomy.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'dour' meaning hard or stern, and remember that 'dourness' describes the state of being stern or gloomy.

Visually Confused Words