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sulky — bad-tempered and sullen; showing resentment and unwillingness to be cheerful

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: bad-tempered and sullen; showing resentment and unwillingness to be cheerful

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsʌlki/

Example Sentences

  • After losing the video game, Tom sat in the corner with a sulky expression.
  • My cat gets sulky when I don't give her treats on demand.
  • The sulky waiter made our dining experience quite unpleasant.

sulky

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈsʌlki/]

bad-tempered and sullen; showing resentment and unwillingness to be cheerful

Nobody did anything that bad — but she's sulky, and the whole room feels it.
💡 Concept

Nobody did anything that bad — but she's sulky, and the whole room feels it.

SULK(pout) + Y(state) — entering a Y(state) of absolute SULK(pout), the offended girl remained completely sulky all afternoon.
🧠 Mnemonic

SULK(pout) + Y(state) — entering a Y(state) of absolute SULK(pout), the offended girl remained completely sulky all afternoon.

Because his mother forced him to wear the extremely heavy and bulky winter sweater, the boy sat on the sofa looking completely sulky.
🎵 Rhyme

Because his mother forced him to wear the extremely heavy and bulky winter sweater, the boy sat on the sofa looking completely sulky.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈsʌlki/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈsʌlki/

🌳Etymology

Rootsulk
Suffix--y

Origin

From the verb 'sulk' which appeared in the 18th century, likely related to 'sullen' meaning gloomy or morose. The word describes someone who is quietly resentful or withdrawn.

Breakdown

sulk (root meaning 'to be moody or withdrawn') + -y (adjective suffix meaning 'having the quality of')

🎵Rhyme

bulky
hulky

🔗Collocations

sulky mood
sulky teenager
look sulky
sulky silence
become sulky
sulky child

📝Examples

“After losing the video game, Tom sat in the corner with a sulky expression.”

😄 Fun example

“My cat gets sulky when I don't give her treats on demand.”

“The sulky waiter made our dining experience quite unpleasant.”

😄 Fun example

“She's been sulky all morning because her phone battery died during her favorite show.”

📚Related Words

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