as in pouts
a state of resentful silence or irritability
a child sitting in a sulk over a minor disagreement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sulk
Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
Chalamet sulks and talks out of the side of his mouth, picking from a grab bag of accents that vary with each scene—all of which are far more reedy and cartoonish than Dylan actually sounded in his younger days.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Now the eldest of the Sully kids, Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) sulks with survivor’s guilt, while teenage adoptee Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) questions her seemingly immaculate conception while deepening her connection to the all-knowing nature goddess Eywa.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sulk
Noun
However, once Biden handed off the Democratic nomination to Newsom’s longtime friend, fellow Willie Brown protégé and political stablemate Kamala Harris, the California governor seemed to disappear into a long sulk.
—Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
Chalamet sulks and talks out of the side of his mouth, picking from a grab bag of accents that vary with each scene—all of which are far more reedy and cartoonish than Dylan actually sounded in his younger days.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
The schedule doesn’t care about embarrassment, and the league is too unforgiving to sulk.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Now the eldest of the Sully kids, Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) sulks with survivor’s guilt, while teenage adoptee Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) questions her seemingly immaculate conception while deepening her connection to the all-knowing nature goddess Eywa.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sulk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sulk
Noun
-
Soto’s Marie pouts and squeals with abandon.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Collectively, we’re all obsessed with the perfect pouts created by celebrity makeup artist Nina Park, whose A-list clientele includes Zoë Kravitz, Emma Stone, Hailey Bieber, and more.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Copeland said Vaisvila didn’t pout or whine after the rough season and instead went to work to fix some fastball and repertoire issues.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
The first slide featured the pair posing for a selfie snapped in the car with their lips pouted, seemingly just a few moments away from kissing.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
This focuses readers on the all-black uniforms of the veiled pupils, who—in a long frame at the center of the page—sit between the looming, frowning teacher on the right and Marji on the left, who stands up to explain that her uncle was executed by the Islamic regime.—
Hillary Chute,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
-
In a pre-AI world, companies would’ve frowned upon allowing clients to bypass the online front door to their services.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
As a 7-year-old, I’d entertain my father’s friends, at their weekly pickup game at a Bronx barn-house gymnasium, by imitating his game face—bottom lip jutting, eyes scowling.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
Modern tiki tends to take a lighter touch, using more abstract graphics, less imagery of women and scowling gods.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Law enforcement officials also point out that any type of modification to e-bikes might not just be dangerous, but can also transform the e-bike into a motorcycle or moped under California law.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
The Canucks owned all of those top picks that year because their GM, Brian Burke, didn’t sit around and mope about bad luck.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sulk. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
