- sul|len
- sul|len «SUHL uhn», adjective.1. silent because of bad humor or anger: »
a sullen disposition. That boy becomes sullen if he is punished. The sullen child refused to answer my questions.
3. gloomy or dismal: »a gray and sullen sea. The sullen skies threatened rain.
4. of a deep, dull, or mournful tone: »sullen thunder.
╂[earlier, also sollen, Middle English soleine < unrecorded Anglo-French solain, and solein < Vulgar Latin sōlānus < Latin sōlus alone]–sul´len|ly, adverb.–sul´len|ness, noun.Synonym Study 1 Sullen, sulky, glum mean silent and bad-humored or gloomy. Sullen suggests an ill-natured refusal to talk or be cooperative because of anger or bad humor or disposition: »It is disagreeable to have to sit at the breakfast table with a sullen person.
Sulky suggests moody or childish sullenness because of resentment or discontent: »Dogs sometimes become sulky because they are jealous.
Glum emphasizes silence and low spirits because of some depressing condition or happening: »He is glum about the results of the election.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
