English Dictionary
Definition of “sullen”
sullen (ˈsʌlən
)
Definitions
adjective
- unwilling to talk or be sociable; sulky; morose
- sombre; gloomy ⇒
a sullen day
- literary sluggish; slow ⇒
a sullen stream
- obsolete threatening
noun
- (plural) archaic a sullen mood
Alternative Forms
ˈsullenly adverb ˈsullenness noun Word Origin
C16: perhaps from Anglo-French solain (unattested), ultimately related to Latin sōlus alone
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
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morose,
cross,
moody,
sour,
gloomy,
brooding,
dour,
surly,
glowering,
sulky,
unsociable,
out of humour,
Usage examples
Charles suggested leaving, Lucy broke sullen silence to set up a protesting howl.
Skelton, Alison Scott, An Older Woman (1993)It might have been a nonevent, with sparse turnout and sullen voters.
Outlook India (2005)But that night in 1985, when father and son said farewell, the elder Sahu was sullen.
Globe and Mail (2003)The nation didn't want to see the sullen , bored faces of these royal also rans.
Sun, News of the World (2002)Forced to keep up with the riders they plunged into a sullen murderous rage burning for violence.
Stewart, RJ, Magical Tales - the story-telling tradition (1990)
