as in pouty
given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability
stayed in a pouting mood until her boyfriend apologized, though he didn't have the vaguest idea what he was apologizing for
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
her lips pouted as she glared at him silently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frowning
to silently go about in a bad mood
pouted and didn't say a word to anyone all morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pouting
Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
My introduction to Peters came late last year, when Instagram’s algorithm served me a video of him wearing a baseball cap, primping and pouting for the camera.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
He’s never been seen publicly pouting or seeming unhappy.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
At the bull riding, no one can have fun because Natalie is pouting because her fight attempt failed.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
This was followed by a shot of them all pouting as Landon and Alabama flashed peace signs and their dad took his turn to flip off the camera.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Wasn’t blaming the losses on the players, wasn’t pouting about it.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
My introduction to Peters came late last year, when Instagram’s algorithm served me a video of him wearing a baseball cap, primping and pouting for the camera.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
He’s never been seen publicly pouting or seeming unhappy.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
At the bull riding, no one can have fun because Natalie is pouting because her fight attempt failed.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
This was followed by a shot of them all pouting as Landon and Alabama flashed peace signs and their dad took his turn to flip off the camera.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pouting
Adjective
-
Kelly made a pouty face at Correa, who started walking toward the Dodger dugout.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Chanelling Miss Sara Bellum from the Powerpuff Girls, her secretarial deep burgundy ringlets were cut into pouty bangs that almost totally concealed her eyes.—
Essence,
Essence,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Indiana Department of Environmental Management inspected it and found a pipe protruding from a berm, leaking water where it’s not supposed to go.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
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They’re typically installed above kitchen sinks and provide more light than standard windows, but their protruding design adds weight and insulation considerations.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The men stood frowning at each other and then back at Adi until the one without the gun broke into croaks of laughter.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Smiling can actually lift your mood, while frowning can lower it.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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This can include feeling irritable, having a low frustration tolerance, feeling easily overstimulated, and having rapid shifts in emotion.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Their second goal came on a play that McLellan still felt postgame should have been overturned for goalie interference, with Dylan Strome seemingly poking a puck out from under Gibson’s glove and scoring on a wraparound.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Spillman seemingly didn’t mind poking fun at her age, hitting the comedic beat again in the November episode that featured the finalists.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Grejo sank scowling back into his chair as though stung by Adi’s answer.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Their head coach, Curt Cignetti, perpetually scowling beneath his 1950s crew cut, is fuel for countless memes.—
Keith O’Brien,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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After a strange courtship ritual—in which, as a favor to Liveright, Cerf accompanied the writer Theodore Dreiser to an afternoon baseball game that the latter man, bored, sulky, whisked them from around the sixth inning—Cerf took the job.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
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Still, Ortega’s performance proves that sulky, baleful gravity doesn’t have to lose its strange luster over time (a third season has already been announced).—
Tom Gliatto,
PEOPLE,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The workshop was a leather Pouch, bulging with what a child can win.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The younger Pearl does not stalk the sideline drenched in sweat, veins bulging from his neck and spittle flying at every questionable call.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pouting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pouting. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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