sullen

[suhl-uhn] / ˈsʌl ən /

ADJECTIVE

brooding, upset

Synonyms

STRONGEST

churlish dour gloomy glum grumpy hostile morose petulant somber surly ugly

WEAK

bad-tempered cheerless crabbed crabby cross cynical dismal dull fretful frowning glowering gruff heavy ill-humored inert irritable malevolent malicious malign mean moody obstinate ornery out of sorts peevish perverse pessimistic pouting pouty querulous saturnine silent sour sourpussed stubborn sulking sulky tenebrific tenebrous unsociable uptight

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable bright cheerful friendly gentle happy joyful kind nice pleasant

WEAK

grinning

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 1996, David Keating cast her as Cathleen, the boisterous mother to a sullen teenager played by Jared Leto in “The Last of the High Kings.”

From Salon • Feb. 4, 2026

Those sullen teens trailing their parents toward the taco truck—why the hooded sweatshirts in 84-degree heat and 72-percent humidity?

From Slate • Aug. 13, 2025

His mood was sullen, according to Meridith McGraw, author of Trump in Exile, an account of the former president’s time after leaving the White House.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2024

Last Thursday, zookeepers noticed the usually playful and energetic bear became lethargic and sullen.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2024

Charles, in the office, was sullen and uncommunicative.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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