SULLEN Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sullen' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sullen are crabbed , gloomy , glum , morose , saturnine , sulky , and surly . While all these words mean "showing a forbidding or disagreeable mood," sullen implies a silent ill humor and a refusal to be sociable. // remained sullen amid the festivities

Q: In what contexts can 'crabbed' take the place of 'sullen'?

While the synonyms crabbed and sullen are close in meaning, crabbed applies to a forbidding morose harshness of manner. // the school's notoriously crabbed headmaster

Q: When would 'gloomy' be a good substitute for 'sullen'?

Although the words gloomy and sullen have much in common, gloomy implies a depression in mood making for seeming sullenness or glumness. // a gloomy mood ushered in by bad news

Q: When could 'glum' be used to replace 'sullen'?

In some situations, the words glum and sullen are roughly equivalent. However, glum suggests a silent dispiritedness. // a glum candidate left to ponder a stunning defeat

Q: How do 'morose' and 'glum' relate to one another, in the sense of 'sullen'?

Morose adds to glum an element of bitterness or misanthropy. // morose job seekers who are inured to rejection

Q: When might 'saturnine' be a better fit than 'sullen'?

The meanings of saturnine and sullen largely overlap; however, saturnine describes a heavy forbidding aspect or suggests a bitter disposition. // a saturnine cynic always finding fault

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sulky' instead of 'sullen'?

The synonyms sulky and sullen are sometimes interchangeable, but sulky suggests childish resentment expressed in peevish sullenness. // grew sulky after every spat

Q: When can 'surly' be used instead of 'sullen'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sullen , surly implies gruffness and sullenness of speech or manner. // a typical surly teenager

sullen

adjective

ˈsə-lən

Definition of sullen

as in somber

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer sullen skies that matched our mood on the day of the funeral

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pouting

given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability sullen and bored at his in-laws' house, he couldn't wait for the holidays to end

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sullen different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sullen are crabbed, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, and surly. While all these words mean "showing a forbidding or disagreeable mood," sullen implies a silent ill humor and a refusal to be sociable.

remained sullen amid the festivities

In what contexts can crabbed take the place of sullen?

While the synonyms crabbed and sullen are close in meaning, crabbed applies to a forbidding morose harshness of manner.

the school's notoriously crabbed headmaster

When would gloomy be a good substitute for sullen?

Although the words gloomy and sullen have much in common, gloomy implies a depression in mood making for seeming sullenness or glumness.

a gloomy mood ushered in by bad news

When could glum be used to replace sullen?

In some situations, the words glum and sullen are roughly equivalent. However, glum suggests a silent dispiritedness.

a glum candidate left to ponder a stunning defeat

How do morose and glum relate to one another, in the sense of sullen?

Morose adds to glum an element of bitterness or misanthropy.

morose job seekers who are inured to rejection

When might saturnine be a better fit than sullen?

The meanings of saturnine and sullen largely overlap; however, saturnine describes a heavy forbidding aspect or suggests a bitter disposition.

a saturnine cynic always finding fault

When is it sensible to use sulky instead of sullen?

The synonyms sulky and sullen are sometimes interchangeable, but sulky suggests childish resentment expressed in peevish sullenness.

grew sulky after every spat

When can surly be used instead of sullen?

While in some cases nearly identical to sullen, surly implies gruffness and sullenness of speech or manner.

a typical surly teenager

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 sullen Now, in a more intimate setting, the sullen and sometimes-sarcastic shadings of this longtime singer-songwriter should hark back to Folds’ fledgling days on the alt-music scene. — David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 Sometimes someone’s sullen or preoccupied or way too wound up. — Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026 Everybody, including the president’s stern chief of security (Thomas Aquino), is skeptical of Creasy’s preparedness for the job, but Paul welcomes Creasy to multiple dinners with his family, including sullen teenage daughter Poe (Billie Boullet). — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026 But the boy had become impatient and sullen, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jacket. — Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sullen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullen

Adjective

Instead, Alfonzo’s first appearance, the culmination of nine tireless years, was somber , stricken by the grief overshadowing what should’ve been a joyous moment in the Dodgers’ to the Padres.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Flying straight from the merry Riverlands into the somber halls of Dragonstone is one hell of a comedown, but Daemon never struggles to access his dark side.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Definition of somber

Adjective

Perelman said people who have weakened immune systems and those with irritable bowel disease may want to talk to their doctors before incorporating the foods into their diet.

— Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.

— Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

Outside of Duran’s efforts, though, the Rangers’ offense was bleak.

— Cal Phillips Updated July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
Indeed, Brocka insists on escapist fantasies in a world that otherwise offers no escape, which, in my view, is more hopeful than bleak — and, in turn, allows this kind of gritty sensuality to persist in his ever-enduring, luminous cinema.

— Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 10 July 2026

Definition of bleak

Adjective

Skillfully carrying the tale as Kimberly is Ann Morrison, marvelously placing the qualities of a bubbly when not sulky teen in the voice and body of an older woman.

— Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
Keep an eye out for chartreuses, browns, and bright sky blues, along with sulky mauves and beiges in a plaster finish.

— Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026

Definition of sulky

Adjective

The film follows Gro (Ezeudu-Sterling), a lonely night-shift worker raised by vampires, who discovers she’s adopted and will never become one of them.

— Jennie Punter, Variety, 14 July 2026
For a generation branded the loneliest generation, hiking clubs are becoming more than a workout.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

Definition of lonely

Adjective

Back at the dilapidated family home, Edgar grows even surlier, lashing into gentle-natured Joe for being an under-achiever compared to his brother and causing Thya to become apprehensive about Ed’s proximity to sharp objects.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
Kara Zor-El, the cynical, surly protagonist of the new Supergirl movie, has a very different attitude than her goody two-shoes cousin, Clark Kent.

— James Grebey, Time, 26 June 2026

Definition of surly

Adjective

Unlike more overtly depressive takes on this role, Bos’ Hamlet is impetuous and sardonic, often bounding up three stairs in a single step and unspooling his words, words, words as if his mouth can’t keep up with his restless mind.

— Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), the largest and longest-running study of the menopause transition, shows women are significantly more likely to report high depressive symptoms during perimenopause than before it.

— Dr. Sarah Berg, Time, 9 July 2026

Definition of depressive

Adjective

Juliette later makes a stop to see Shirley, who is still being unreasonably pouty about her amnesiac friend not remembering her — and is, again, curtly dismissive of Juliette’s search for Lukas.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026
While Jolie-Pitt's cameo in the teaser was only a few seconds long, her pouty lip and bright blue eyes unmistakably bore a striking resemblance to Jolie's.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of pouty

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“Sullen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullen. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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