1
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
2
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sullen
Emma Specter, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2025
Madison, whose full name is Mikaela Madison Rosberg, first rose to fame for the role of a sullen teenager in the FX comedy Better Things.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 3 Mar. 2025
Then Chloe pointed out her boyfriend across the room ... revealing none other than a sullen Greg eating at their table, alone.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2025
The mood in the room was somber and sullen following a 144-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sullen
Adjective
In the film, Adèle Haenel plays Héloïse, a sullen 18th-century French daughter of privilege, and Noémie Merlant plays Marianne, the adventurous artist hired to paint her.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2025
Madison, whose full name is Mikaela Madison Rosberg, first rose to fame for the role of a sullen teenager in the FX comedy Better Things.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 3 Mar. 2025
Then Chloe pointed out her boyfriend across the room ... revealing none other than a sullen Greg eating at their table, alone.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2025
The mood in the room was somber and sullen following a 144-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sullen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullen
Adjective
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There's an eclectic mix of jazz, big sweeping orchestral pieces, high energy electric guitars, and quiet, somber piano tunes.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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President Donald Trump is set to address the annual White House Easter Egg Roll hours after the death of Pope Francis, making for a somber backdrop for the light-hearted, kid-friendly affair.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The observations from Drewry’s and Moody’s, as well as the scenario floated by McCown, follow a bleak outlook for the middle of May out of the biggest port in the U.S.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Apr. 2025
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These economic concerns echo findings from a Federal Reserve survey last week that said Americans’ view of the economy is bleak — and getting worse.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
It is believed to reduce pain and inflammation, and has been used for treatment of back pain, high blood pressure, arthritis, migraines, and irritable bowel disease.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
4 Apr. 2025
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And even in what was a stilted match played in an increasingly irritable atmosphere, Rogers and Tielemans delivered with an assist each.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When their spouses don’t contribute, women can experience burnout, irritability and a deep, quiet resentment — not just toward the demands of work and family, but toward the relationship itself.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Acute toxicity can also include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, irritability and abdominal pain.—
April Rubin,
Axios,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Community service for an increasingly lonely, isolated society?—
Nate Rogers,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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According to recent Gallup data, approximately 20% of U.S. adults report feeling lonely every day.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Playing Dawn Summers, Trachtenberg joined the show in 2000, as Buffy's younger sister, who was at times bratty, sulky, and a bit of a klutz — but nonetheless offered a new and exciting sibling dynamic for the show to explore.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
26 Feb. 2025
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Horse race At the harness racing week on the Freehold Raceway in New Jersey: a reverse race with the sulky fixed in front of the horse - 1930.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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More precisely, there was a 60 percent reduction in depressive symptoms, with more than half of the participants exhibiting total remission.—
John Semley,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2025
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Alongside other treatments, inositol supplements may help with depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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An example: Sip and Polina have been thrown into Ian Mayfair’s home prison (a must for every supernatural villain property), complete with iron bars and a surly watchman, but this turns out to be an extremely minor setback.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
2 Mar. 2025
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The Sum of a Career in Spaceflight Schirra had announced his plans to retire from NASA before the Apollo 7 flight, and a successful (if surly) mission, topped off with an Emmy Award and a Deep Draft Command certificate, wasn’t a bad way to wrap up a nine-year career at the agency.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sullen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullen. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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