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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sullen
Adjective
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A lot of emotions — excitement and rejuvenation about joining a new team but also reflective and somber about his tenure in Boston coming to an end.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2025
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The mood at the event was anything but somber, though.—
Kristen Bateman,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
All of these episodes have different types of endings: There’s bleak to total cliffhanger to sentimental.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2025
-
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
-
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
Noun
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Negative symptoms may include irritability, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, sleepiness, breathing problems, heart attacks, kidney failure and muscle damage, according to the CDC.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Does your child mock emotions, roll his eyes at equality, or show an uptick in irritability toward female teachers, or even you?—
Samantha Mann,
Parents,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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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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 25 Apr. 2025.
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