frowning

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of frown

   Frowning heads are still gloomily shaken when the subject is raised on the NER, [...].

   1964 September, G. Freeman Allen, “Interim report on the East Coast Route express service”, in Modern Railways, page 160

plural frownings

1. The act of giving a frown.

   Let all the creatures above and below frown and scowl upon me; if my Creator smile, I am happy; nor can all their frownings diminish my complete joy.

   1734, Isaac Watts, Reliquiæ juveniles

comparative more frowning · superlative most frowning

1. figurativelyImposing, menacing.

   The basin of Pheneus is a narrow upland valley closely shut in on every side by steep frowning mountains.

   1918, James George Frazer, Folk-Lore In The Old Testament, volume 1, page 164