ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›S›sullen
ISEE/SSATmedium
sullen
silently resentful or gloomy in mood
Synonyms
Antonyms
- cheerful
- bright
- amiable
sullen in a sentence
He gave a sullen shrug and refused to explain his silence.
The usually cheerful waiter turned sullen the moment his manager criticized him in front of customers.
Where it comes from
From Old French solein 'solitary'
Memory hook
SULLEN sounds like 'sulking' — quiet, moody, and withdrawn.
Read it in context
- The Queen's Paper Roads History