sullenly

American  

[suhl-uhn-lee] / ˈsʌl ən li /

adverb

1. in a way that shows irritation, ill humor, or gloom; morosely.

   In the next room, an embittered, lonely man sits sullenly.

2. with a gloomy or dismal sound.

   The door thudded sullenly behind her.

   The waves roared sullenly against the base of the cliff.

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Other Word Forms

• unsullenly adverb

Etymology

Origin of sullenly

sullen ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Someone who acts sullenly seems gloomy, dissatisfied — not happy to be there. If you act sullenly at your grandparents' anniversary party, you can expect to be taken aside and told, "Cheer up. Now." The picture of someone acting sullenly? It's a person slumped in a chair, arms crossed, sighing a lot. The adverb sullenly is used to describe something that's done glumly, or in a very bad-tempered way. Anyone who is in the mood to complain will speak or respond sullenly, like a little kid who's been dragged along on a car trip and speaks up sullenly from time to time to ask, "Are we there yet?"

Example Sentences

They regard each other sullenly, like children forced into introductions by their parents.

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2023

I've been hurt by starters that would never become sufficiently foamy, by doughs that sullenly refused to rise, by boules that baked into oversized hockey pucks.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2023

In his bathroom brooding raptors hooded like hangmen shifted sullenly upon their perches.

From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2022

Everyone knew that the fifth-round pick had bounce, but as he sat sullenly after the play, the question was: Could he bounce back?

From Seattle Times • Aug. 17, 2022

“I want to be excused,” he said sullenly.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam