saturnine – a gloomy person; serious and unfriendly

(Pronounced sat-er-nine)

To remember the definition of the word saturnine, use the following mnemonic:

On Saturn, nine (saturnine) astronauts landed. They found it a very gloomy place.

Examples of saturnine in a sentence

Since Kelly has been ill, she has been in a saturnine mood.

It was hard to not be saturnine after learning of my favourite aunt’s death. 

I always thought my neighbour was saturnine, but he is actually a very friendly and upbeat person.