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
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Recent Examples of sullenness
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
Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullenness
Noun
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Cheers to hydrated pouts ahead!—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
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The squalane superstar makes pouts smoother, shinier, and plumper over time, which are all desirable adjectives in context of being as camera-ready as ever.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sleep also plays a major role in emotional regulation and cognitive performance as insufficient sleep can impair attention, decision-making and reaction time while also increasing irritability and sensitivity to stress.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
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With withdrawal, adolescents can suffer greater anxiety and irritability.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sullenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullenness. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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