as in pouts
a state of resentful silence or irritability
her mother-in-law managed to dispel her sullenness with a gals-only shopping spree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sullenness
His performance lives in his eyes, which manage to convey a sincere naïveté and a sullenness all at once.
—
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
As Mozart, Sam Clemmett is wonderful, carefully navigating the silliness and sullenness of a character who’s been drawn as part boy, part man.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
As Mozart, Sam Clemmett is wonderful, carefully navigating the silliness and sullenness of a character who’s been drawn as part boy, part man.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullenness
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
Noun
-
This is also one of the reasons why chronically high cortisol is associated with anxiety, irritability and trouble focusing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
That histamine release is what drives symptoms like flushing, irritability and GI issues.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sullenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullenness. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
