MEANING
Showing bad temper or resentment through silence, withdrawal, or an unfriendly manner.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- sullen silence
- sullen expression
On the page
He followed them in sullen silence, keeping several steps behind.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- sullen
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Comparative more sullen; superlative most sullen when comparison is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common.
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