sullen

[ suhl-uhn ]

adjective

1. showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve.

   Antonyms: cheerful

2. persistently and silently ill-humored; morose.

   Synonyms: bad-tempered, cranky, sour, moody, sulky

   Antonyms: cheerful

3. indicative of gloomy ill humor.
4. gloomy or dismal, as weather or a sound.

   Synonyms: dark, mournful, somber, overcast, clouded, cheerless

5. sluggish, as a stream.

   Synonyms: stagnant, slow

6. Obsolete. malignant, as planets or influences.

sullen

/ ˈsʌlən /

adjective

1. unwilling to talk or be sociable; sulky; morose
2. sombre; gloomy

   a sullen day

3. literary.
   sluggish; slow

   a sullen stream

4. obsolete.
   threatening

noun

1. archaic.
   plural a sullen mood

Derived Forms

• ˈsullenness, noun
• ˈsullenly, adverb

Other Words From

• sul·len·ly adverb
• sul·len·ness noun
• un·sul·len adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sullen¹

First recorded in 1565–75; earlier sollen, solain, from Middle English solein(e), solain “sole, solitary, sullen,” possibly from Vulgar Latin sōlānus (unattested), from Latin sōlus “alone, only, single”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sullen¹

C16: perhaps from Anglo-French solain (unattested), ultimately related to Latin sōlus alone

Synonym Study

See cross. See glum.

Example Sentences

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

The feeling between Trump and McConnell is mutual — the former president once called the Kentucky Republican "a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack."

From Salon

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

From Los Angeles Times

We know Alito’s insurrectionist flags are still aloft in his ever aggrieved mind, while also and flapping wildly in the sullen gusts of wind inside Justice Clarence Thomas’ head.

From Salon

Addressing a sullen final day of negotiations, the WHO chief insisted, “This is not a failure.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• churlish
• dour
• gloomy
• glum
• grumpy
• hostile
• morose
• petulant
• somber
• surly
• ugly