frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

are people of doubtful reputation.
doubtless adv. 1 doubtlessly, undoubtedly, no doubt, indubitably,
indisputably, unquestionably, surely, for sure, certainly, for
certain, naturally, without (a) doubt, beyond or without (a
shadow of) a doubt, truly, positively, absolutely, Colloq
absotively, posolutely, US make no mistake: You doubtless
remember my aunt? 2 probably, most or very likely, in all
probability, supposedly, presumably: He will doubtless be
refused entry into the country.
dour adj. 1 sullen, sour, unfriendly, cold, gloomy, morose, dreary,
grim, cheerless, dismal, forbidding: We went to Spain, away
from the dour northern climate. 2 hard, tough, austere, severe,
hardy, inflexible, obstinate, stubborn, unyielding,
uncompromising, strict, rigid, obdurate, stern, harsh, adamant,
Colloq hard-nosed: Her father was a dour Scot who wouldn't let
me in the house.
dowdy adj. frowzy, frumpy, drab, dull, seedy, shabby, unseemly,
unbecoming; slovenly, sloppy, messy, unkempt; old-fashioned,
unfashionable, Colloq US tacky: Aunt Patience looked
particularly dowdy in her dressing-gown and slippers.
down and out
adj. 1 indigent, poverty-stricken, poor, penniless, destitute,
impoverished, Colloq broke, US on the skids, on skid row, on the
bum, Slang Brit skint: Those vagrants are down and out and need
help, not pity.
--n. 2 down-and-out. derelict, beggar, outcast, tramp, vagrant,
vagabond, US bum: He took to drink and ended up a complete
down-and-out.
downfall n. ruin, undoing, d‚bƒcle, collapse, degradation, defeat,
overthrow, breakdown: Selling the company to the conglomerate
spelt its downfall.
downgrade v. 1 demote, dethrone, humble, lower, reduce, displace, depose,
dispossess, disfranchise or disenfranchise, US military bust;
Colloq bring or take down a peg: He was downgraded from
supervisor to foreman. 2 belittle, minimize, play down,
disparage, decry, denigrate, run down, US and Canadian downplay: