どんより

ど

ん

よ

り

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

どんよりする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

Describes a sky or weather that is heavily overcast, dim, and gloomy. Often used with 空 or 天気.

heavy; leaden; dull; lackluster; glazed

Describes eyes, expressions, or atmosphere that are dull, lifeless, or lacking vitality. Often used with 目 or 表情.

空そらがどんよりするfor the sky to be dark and overcast
梅雨つゆの時じ期きは空そらがどんよりしている日ひが多おおい。
During the rainy season, the sky is often dark and overcast.
目めがどんよりするfor one's eyes to look dull or glazed
寝ね不ぶ足そくで目めがどんよりしている。
His eyes look dull and glazed from lack of sleep.
どんよりした天てん気きgloomy, overcast weather
どんよりした天てん気きが続つづくと気き分ぶんも沈しずむ。
When gloomy weather continues, one's mood tends to sink too.
どんよりした表ひょう情じょうa dull, lifeless expression
彼かれはどんよりした表ひょう情じょうで座すわっていた。
He sat there with a dull, lifeless expression.
空くう気きがどんよりするfor the atmosphere in a place to feel heavy and gloomy
会かい議ぎ室しつの空くう気きがどんよりしていた。
The atmosphere in the meeting room felt heavy and gloomy.

曇くもるN4sense 1
曇る is the plain verb for weather 'becoming cloudy', while どんより emphasizes a heavy, dim, oppressive overcast feeling.
陰いん気きN1sense 2
陰気 describes a generally gloomy, dark personality or atmosphere, while どんより more often describes a momentary dull, heavy look (eyes, mood, sky).
薄うす暗ぐらいN3sense 1
薄暗い describes dim lighting itself, whereas どんより adds a sense of heavy, listless gloom beyond just low light.
うっとうしいN2
どんより is an adverb/na-adjective describing a dull, heavy-looking sky, while 鬱陶しい is an i-adjective that also conveys the unpleasant feeling that weather or mood gives you.

晴はれ晴ばれN1
晴れ晴れ describes a bright, clear sky or a cheerful, refreshed mood, the opposite of どんより's heavy gloom.
生いき生いきN3sense 2
生き生き describes eyes or an expression that are vivid and full of life, contrasting with どんより's dull, lifeless glaze.
うきうきN2
どんより describes a gloomy, heavy, listless mood or dull weather, the opposite of the light, cheerful mood of うきうき.
からりN1
どんより describes a heavy, overcast, gloomy sky, the opposite of からり's bright, cleared-up weather.

じんわり
じんわり sounds similar to どんより but means something spreading or seeping gradually (e.g. warmth, tears), not heaviness or gloom.

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but the sound どん suggests heaviness or dullness, and より adds a sense of lingering or stagnation.