Synonym Chooser

How is the word saturnine different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of saturnine are crabbed, gloomy, glum, morose, sulky, sullen, and surly. While all these words mean "showing a forbidding or disagreeable mood," saturnine describes a heavy forbidding aspect or suggests a bitter disposition.

a saturnine cynic always finding fault

When is crabbed a more appropriate choice than saturnine?

The synonyms crabbed and saturnine are sometimes interchangeable, but crabbed applies to a forbidding morose harshness of manner.

the school's notoriously crabbed headmaster

In what contexts can gloomy take the place of saturnine?

The words gloomy and saturnine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gloomy implies a depression in mood making for seeming sullenness or glumness.

a gloomy mood ushered in by bad news

When can glum be used instead of saturnine?

While the synonyms glum and saturnine are close in meaning, glum suggests a silent dispiritedness.

a glum candidate left to ponder a stunning defeat

How do morose and glum relate to one another, in the sense of saturnine?

Morose adds to glum an element of bitterness or misanthropy.

morose job seekers who are inured to rejection

When could sulky be used to replace saturnine?

In some situations, the words sulky and saturnine are roughly equivalent. However, sulky suggests childish resentment expressed in peevish sullenness.

grew sulky after every spat

When would sullen be a good substitute for saturnine?

Although the words sullen and saturnine have much in common, sullen implies a silent ill humor and a refusal to be sociable.

remained sullen amid the festivities

Where would surly be a reasonable alternative to saturnine?

The words surly and saturnine can be used in similar contexts, but surly implies gruffness and sullenness of speech or manner.

a typical surly teenager

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of saturnine The mood is too saturnine, the occasional nods to social criticism too stilted. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saturnine
Adjective
  • These early, somber moments cast a mood, but the film is eager to hold Polly’s feet to some fire.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The primary hue associated with passion and confidence is the instant energy boost your wardrobe needs—especially during the fall and winter, when the somber mood outside often gets expressed in neutrals-heavy style.
    Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Among American kids, over half who experienced a major depressive episode in the past year didn’t receive treatment.
    Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • According to Agnifilo, three medical experts have diagnosed Combs with post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, things are looking bleak for John Cena’s Chris Smith.
    Peter White, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But while these models are enthrall Environmental activist Jane Goodall, who died Wednesday at the age of 91, understood the bleak projections from climate scientists — and the economic and political structures that hinder change.
    Esther Zuckerman, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Kennedy sought the advice of doctors after dealing with severe memory loss and brain fog, reportedly leading to a scan of his brain that showed a dark spot in the imagery.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Instantly, her apartment faded away, to be replaced by a dark void.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As gaming becomes a more mainstream activity, however, these stereotypes grow more archaic, and a new study from the Entertainment Software Association suggests that the universal image of a gamer as a lonely young male is not just outdated, but inaccurate.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
  • His lonely white panel cap, the lucky charm the Jays wore for four-straight victories, sat alone on a cushioned chair.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As a result, his work is equal parts depressing and invigorating.
    Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
  • This also doesn’t imply the book is depressing or a tear-jerker—quite the opposite.
    Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • To find the killer, Sherlock Holmes and Watson will have to brave desolate moors before a family curse dooms the newest heirs.
    Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • With its primary tenant away, the pro stadium here in central Japan was desolate outside.
    Brad Lefton, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Some will make the list due to sheer star power, while others are more about circumstances or just morbid curiosity.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • In reality, Ed's burial site became a morbid tourist attraction.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Saturnine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saturnine. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!