| Combining dourness and humour, sentimentality and hard-headedness, arrogance and tolerance, every situation is redeemed by laughter. |
| More than 20 years after Vietnam began its doi moi market-based reforms, communist dourness is a dim memory. |
| Brady's carefully-cultivated air of dismissive dourness offset Giles' sombre demeanour perfectly, as it usually does. |
| Deconstructive dourness never stays put, however, so of course the deconstructive acid seeped over from museum practices to high art itself. |
| In contrast with the conductor's dourness, the train butcher's mood was congenially inclined to persiflage. |
| Too intent upon her own feelings to give heed to the dourness of the lad Peggy followed him silently as he strode from the house. |
