Dostoyevskian

1 9.9

Having deep inner conflict, guilt, and hard moral choices like Dostoevsky's writing

adjective
/ˌdɒstəˈjɛvskiən/

Literature

: dostoievskiano

Some critics describe his characters as Dostoyevskian in their struggle with guilt and redemption.

Examples

The atmosphere of the film was distinctly Dostoyevskian, filled with existential angst and moral ambiguity.
Her novels often have a Dostoyevskian complexity, exploring the darkest corners of human psychology.
The novel's Dostoyevskian themes left a profound impact on the readers.
Many critics describe his writing as deeply Dostoyevskian.
Her novels often have a Dostoyevskian complexity, exploring the darkest corners of human psychology.
Some critics describe his characters as Dostoyevskian in their struggle with guilt and redemption.
The atmosphere of the film was distinctly Dostoyevskian, filled with existential angst and moral ambiguity.

Synonyms

Dostoevskian

vsDostoyevskian

Literature

1 9.9

Showing deep inner conflict, hard moral choices, and intense suffering like Dostoevsky's novels

uses the standard modern spelling of the author's name for the same literary traits

How Psychological

Dostoyevskian

Literature

1 9.9

introspective

18 7.4

psychological

400 4.5

Surface Forms

Dostoyevskian positive

Morphology

Dostoyevskian = Dostoyevsky (transparent) = Dostoyevsky + ian

Formed by the productive adjectival suffix '-ian' on the proper name 'Dostoyevsky', meaning 'relating to Dostoyevsky'—clear if the base name is known.

Etymology

The word Dostoyevskian comes from the Russian writer Dostoyevsky plus the ending -ian, which means 'of' or 'like'. Like words such as Shakespearean or Dickensian, Dostoyevskian describes things that are 'like' his books, full of deep moral questions and strong inner conflict.