sulky 🔊
Meaning of sulky
Showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve.
Key Difference
While 'sulky' implies a silent, withdrawn moodiness, its synonyms may vary in intensity and expression, such as being openly resentful or passively gloomy.
Example of sulky
- After losing the game, he sat in the corner, sulky and unwilling to talk to anyone.
- Her sulky demeanor made it clear she was upset about not getting the promotion.
Synonyms
sullen 🔊
Meaning of sullen
Showing a gloomy or ill-tempered silence.
Key Difference
'Sullen' often implies a deeper, more persistent resentment than 'sulky,' which can be more temporary.
Example of sullen
- The teenager gave a sullen response when asked about his grades.
- His sullen expression never left his face during the entire meeting.
morose 🔊
Meaning of morose
Sullen and ill-tempered, often with a sense of hopelessness.
Key Difference
'Morose' suggests a more prolonged and depressive mood compared to 'sulky,' which is often situational.
Example of morose
- After the failed expedition, the explorer became morose and withdrawn.
- She grew morose after months of isolation during the pandemic.
glum 🔊
Meaning of glum
Looking or feeling dejected; dispirited.
Key Difference
'Glum' is less about irritation and more about general sadness, whereas 'sulky' involves a silent resentment.
Example of glum
- The team was glum after their unexpected defeat in the finals.
- He gave a glum nod when asked if he was okay.
moody 🔊
Meaning of moody
Given to unpredictable changes of mood, especially sudden gloominess.
Key Difference
'Moody' is broader and can include various emotional shifts, while 'sulky' is specifically silent and resentful.
Example of moody
- The artist was known for being moody, often retreating into silence for days.
- Her moody behavior made it hard for her friends to know how to cheer her up.
grumpy 🔊
Meaning of grumpy
Easily irritated or annoyed, often with visible expressions.
Key Difference
'Grumpy' is more outwardly irritable, whereas 'sulky' is quieter and more withdrawn.
Example of grumpy
- The old man was grumpy in the mornings before his coffee.
- She became grumpy after her flight was delayed for the third time.
petulant 🔊
Meaning of petulant
Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
Key Difference
'Petulant' implies childish impatience, while 'sulky' can be more subdued and adult-like.
Example of petulant
- The actor’s petulant outburst shocked the interviewers.
- Her petulant refusal to cooperate stalled the entire project.
brooding 🔊
Meaning of brooding
Engaged in deep, often dark or resentful thought.
Key Difference
'Brooding' suggests a deeper, more contemplative moodiness, while 'sulky' is more about silent irritation.
Example of brooding
- He sat by the window, brooding over the argument from earlier.
- Her brooding silence made everyone uneasy at the dinner table.
dour 🔊
Meaning of dour
Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance.
Key Difference
'Dour' implies a harsh sternness, whereas 'sulky' is more about passive irritation.
Example of dour
- The principal’s dour expression intimidated the students.
- His dour personality made social gatherings awkward.
surly 🔊
Meaning of surly
Bad-tempered and unfriendly.
Key Difference
'Surly' is more openly hostile, while 'sulky' is quieter and less confrontational.
Example of surly
- The guard gave a surly response when questioned about the delay.
- His surly attitude made customer service interactions difficult.
Conclusion
- 'Sulky' is best used when describing someone who is silently resentful or moody without overt anger.
- 'Sullen' can be used when the moodiness is deeper and more persistent.
- 'Morose' fits when the gloominess is prolonged and possibly depressive.
- 'Glum' is appropriate for general sadness rather than irritation.
- 'Moody' works for unpredictable emotional shifts.
- 'Grumpy' is ideal for openly irritable behavior.
- 'Petulant' should be used for childish sulkiness.
- 'Brooding' fits a more contemplative, intense moodiness.
- 'Dour' is best for stern, severe expressions of gloom.
- 'Surly' is suitable for openly hostile or unfriendliness.