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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sullen
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
The New Daughter has an interesting, sullen mood and looks fantastic, but that just further accentuates how out of place Costner seems.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 1 July 2024
One of the migrants looks at the camera with sullen eyes and a rugged beard.
—Kunal Sehgal, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sullen
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
The New Daughter has an interesting, sullen mood and looks fantastic, but that just further accentuates how out of place Costner seems.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 1 July 2024
One of the migrants looks at the camera with sullen eyes and a rugged beard.
—Kunal Sehgal, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sullen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullen
Adjective
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The week continues to build excitement with the Celtic Cross Mass and Ceremony (this year on Sunday, March 9) and the beautiful and somber Sgt.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The mood at the event was anything but somber, though.—
Kristen Bateman,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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All of these episodes have different types of endings: There’s bleak to total cliffhanger to sentimental.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2025
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Some practical frameworks and strategies enable leaders to maintain stability, foster engagement, and position their teams for success even when the economic outlook appears bleak.—
Kara Dennison, SPHR, CPRW, EC,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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This stretch can worsen pain in people with back pain, very tight hamstrings, or irritable nerves.—
Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This keeps us lonely at a time when the loneliness public health crisis is at an all-time high.—
Priya Vulchi,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ro, now a police officer, needs help investigating the death 22 years earlier of their classmate, Ricky, killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely county road.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
6 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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Meanwhile, an analysis of more than 185,000 Danish individuals at the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register from 1995 to 2012 found a more than 10 percent rise in depressive episodes following the shift from summertime to standard time.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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It's often associated with major depressive, bipolar or substance use disorders, report co-author and senior policy director at Healthier Colorado Christina Walker tells us.—
Esteban L. Hernandez,
Axios,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The Pacific Northwest, which has played host to a series of surly atmospheric rivers and a bomb cyclone in recent days, should finally quiet down, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys told USA TODAY on Sunday as that national weather picture for the holiday grew sharper.—
John Bacon,
USA TODAY,
24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And so by some sociologists, camp is thought to be this form of dark humor serving as a coping mechanism to historical marginalization.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
15 Apr. 2025
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Editor’s tip: Niacinamide is a multitasker that blurs the look of dark spots, evens your skin tone, and balances your complexion.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sullen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sullen. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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