Sulky Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Published on November 29, 2025
Sulky refers to a mood of pouting or showing resentment through silent, sullen behavior. e.g., After losing the game, he was in a sulky mood all evening.
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Sulky Definitions
Showing a displeased or sullen mood; morose.
Her sulky expression made it clear she was unhappy with the decision.
Silently resentful; brooding.
She remained sulky and uncommunicative throughout dinner.
Showing a sullen or grumpy disposition.
She gave a sulky shrug when asked about her day.
Behaving in a pouty, often silent manner, as a way of protesting or showing displeasure.
The teenager's sulky behavior was a challenge for her parents.
Characterized by silent resentment or gloominess.
A sulky silence filled the room after the argument.
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Marked by or given to sulking; gloomy.
He spent a sulky afternoon alone in his room.
Inclined to sulk; sulken.
The child's sulky demeanor softened after some encouragement.
Sullenly aloof or withdrawn, especially in response to having had one's will thwarted.
Gloomy; dismal
Sulky weather.
A light, open two-wheeled vehicle accommodating only the driver and drawn by one horse, used especially in harness racing.
Silent and withdrawn after being upset
The sulky child
A low two-wheeled cart, used in harness racing.
Any carriage seating only the driver.
Moodly silent; sullen; sour; obstinate; morose; splenetic.
A light two-wheeled carriage for a single person.
A light two-wheeled vehicle for one person; drawn by one horse
Sullen or moody
Displaying a temporary state of dejection or sullenness.
His sulky attitude disappeared after a heartfelt apology.
A light, two-wheeled vehicle for one person, often used in harness racing.
The racer took his position in the sulky, ready for the competition.
Resistant to cheerful engagement; uncooperative due to mood.
His sulky response to the invitation made his friends hesitant to ask again.
Sulky Snonyms
Sullen
Bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy.
The boy's sullen face showed his disappointment.
Morose
Sullen and ill-tempered.
His morose demeanor made him difficult to approach.
Gloomy
Dark or poorly lit, especially so as to appear depressing or frightening.
The gloomy weather mirrored his mood.
Dour
Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance.
The teacher's dour expression discouraged any questions.
Brooding
Showing deep unhappiness of thought.
She had a brooding look that suggested deep thoughts.
Petulant
Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
His petulant outburst over the minor inconvenience was surprising.
Peevish
Easily irritated, especially by unimportant things.
The peevish child whined about the color of his cup.
Moody
Subject to unpredictable changes of mood, especially sudden bouts of gloominess or sulkiness.
The artist was known for his moody nature.
Grumpy
Bad-tempered and irritable.
The old man was grumpy before his morning coffee.
Cantankerous
Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
The cantankerous neighbor complained about every little noise.
Sulky Example Sentences
The sulky teenager refused to participate in the family outing.
Her sulky demeanor at the party didn't go unnoticed.
Despite trying to cheer him up, he remained sulky and withdrawn.
A sulky expression took over her face when she lost the game.
After the argument, a sulky silence filled the car.
He was noticeably sulky after being teased by his friends.
He answered in a sulky tone, clearly upset about the decision.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in sulky?
The stressed syllable in "sulky" is "sulk-".
How is sulky used in a sentence?
"Sulky" is used to describe someone who is silently showing resentment or displeasure.
Why is it called sulky?
The term "sulky" comes from the habit of expressing resentment or displeasure through sullen, silent behavior.
How do we divide sulky into syllables?
Sulky is divided into syllables as: sulk-y.
How many syllables are in sulky?
Sulky has two syllables.
What is the pronunciation of sulky?
Sulky is pronounced as /ˈsʌlki/.
What part of speech is sulky?
"Sulky" is an adjective.
What is another term for sulky?
Another term for "sulky" is "sullen".
What is the singular form of sulky?
"Sulky" itself is singular when describing a mood or behavior.
What is the verb form of sulky?
The verb form related to "sulky" is "sulk".
What is the root word of sulky?
The root word of "sulky" is "sulk".
Is sulky an abstract noun?
No, "sulky" is an adjective, not a noun.
What is the plural form of sulky?
"Sulky" does not have a plural form as it is an adjective; however, you can have "sulky individuals" or "sulky moods".
Is sulky a noun or adjective?
"Sulky" is an adjective.
Is sulky an adverb?
No, "sulky" is not an adverb.
Is the sulky term a metaphor?
"Sulky" can be used metaphorically to describe behavior, but it is not inherently a metaphor.
Is the word sulky Gerund?
No, "sulky" is not a gerund; "sulking" would be the gerund form of the verb "sulk".
Which determiner is used with sulky?
Determiners like "a," "the," and possessives can be used with nouns modified by "sulky" (e.g., "a sulky demeanor").
Which vowel is used before sulky?
The vowel used before "sulky" can vary depending on the context (e.g., "a sulky attitude").
Is sulky a vowel or consonant?
The word "sulky" starts with a consonant.
Is sulky a countable noun?
"Sulky" is not a noun; it's an adjective.
Which conjunction is used with sulky?
Conjunctions such as "and" or "but" can be used when "sulky" is part of a list or contrast (e.g., "sulky but compliant").
Which article is used with sulky?
The articles "a" or "the" can be used with "sulky" depending on the context (e.g., "a sulky mood").
What is the opposite of sulky?
The opposite of "sulky" is "cheerful" or "amiable".
Is sulky a collective noun?
No, "sulky" is not a collective noun.
Is the word sulky imperative?
No, "sulky" is not imperative; it's descriptive.
Is the word “sulky” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Sulky" is neither; it's an adjective used to describe a noun.
Which preposition is used with sulky?
Prepositions like "in," "with," and "over" can be used with "sulky" (e.g., "sulky over the decision").
Is sulky a negative or positive word?
"Sulky" is generally considered a negative word.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
