Synonyms of sulk

sulk 1 of 2

noun

as in pouts

a state of resentful silence or irritability

a child sitting in a sulk over a minor disagreement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pouts
• dumps
• irritability
• sulkiness
• snit
• sullenness
• pet
• blues
• irritableness
• grouch
• fretfulness
• sensitivity
• crossness
• mopes
• hump
• petulance
• surliness
• peevishness
• grumpiness
• grouchiness
• testiness
• disagreeableness
• crankiness
• irascibility
• perversity
• biliousness
• perverseness
• cantankerousness
• dyspepsia
• choler
• querulousness
• orneriness
• fantods
• waspishness
• pettishness
• huffiness
• fussiness
• irascibleness
• crotchetiness
• oversensitiveness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gaiety
• cheerfulness
• perkiness
• lightheartedness
• sociability
• friendliness
• cordiality
• graciousness
• sociality
• pleasantness
• geniality
• agreeableness
• affability
• high-spiritedness
• amicability
• amenity
• gladsomeness
• amiability
• amiableness
• good-naturedness
• good-temperedness
• good-humoredness

sulk

2 of 2

verb

ˈsəlk 

as in to pout

to silently go about in a bad mood

the toddler would sulk for hours whenever he didn't get his way

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pout
• frown
• scowl
• mope
• grump
• brood
• ponder
• dwell (on)
• glower
• mull (over)
• muse (over)
• pet
• lower
• take on
• carry on

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sulk

Noun

While Mel says he’s gotten better and has learned to celebrate Nick’s life more than sulk, the pain remains. — Jonathan M. Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024

Elphaba is determined to expose the Wizard while Glinda marvels over her newfound fame and Fiyero sulks. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2025

Verb

In the corner, a young John Adams sulks, uninterested in the dancing and gossip and instead opting to smoke a pipe and watch. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 June 2026

In the garden, primroses sulk in hot weather often dying back until next spring when cooler temperatures prevail. — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026