Meaning & use
sullen
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Silently bad-tempered, gloomy, or resentful, often shown by a refusal to speak or smile.
Grammar: Gradable: someone can be more sullen or the most sullen.
Patterns
- a sullen look
- be sullen with someone
- grow sullen
After being scolded, the boy sat in a sullen silence.
She gave a sullen nod and refused to say anything more.
He became sullen and withdrawn when his plans were rejected.
adjectivecomparableliterary
Dark and gloomy in appearance, especially of weather or sky.
Grammar: Usually used before a noun: sullen skies.
Patterns
- sullen skies
- a sullen day
The sullen sky promised rain before evening.
They walked home under a sullen gray cloud.
Word forms
| comparative | sullener |
|---|---|
| superlative | sullenest |
Common combinations
- sullen silence
- The room was filled with a sullen silence after the argument.
- sullen expression
- He wore a sullen expression all through dinner.
- sullen mood
- Her sullen mood lifted once she got some rest.
- grow sullen
- The children grew sullen when told to stop playing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- moody
- Moody means often changing emotions; sullen specifically suggests silent resentment.
- glum
- Glum means sad and without hope; sullen adds a sense of quiet anger or resentment.
- morose
- Morose is more formal and means gloomy and unfriendly; sullen often shows in a person's expression.
- surly
- Surly means bad-tempered and rude in a more open way; sullen is quieter and more withdrawn.
Opposites
Word family
- sullenly adverb
- In a sullen manner.
- sullenness noun
- The state of being sullen.
Commonly confused: sullen or sulky?
sullen vs sulky
Sulky is close but often used for children or for someone who is pouting; sullen is stronger and more resentful.
Practice
After losing the game, the player sat in ______ silence and would not talk to anyone.
Choose one answer.
We need an adjective to describe 'silence', so 'sullen' is correct. 'Sullenly' is an adverb and would describe how someone did something, and 'sullenness' is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sullen”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.