sullen

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

He said the teenager came across as an "unremarkable, sullen, untalkative, gawky teenage boy" during their sessions together.

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025

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

You never know how she’s going to react and while her large eyes are often sullen and sad, her expression unreadable, Dyrholm’s are wide and bright, verging on the edge of mania.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024

Helmuth grows sullen and distant, unable to bring himself to eat the cake as Hugo makes small talk with Opa.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti