Sullenbad-tempered, gloomy, and unwilling to talk is an adjective used for weather or a person’s mood. It can describe something dark and cloudy, or a person who looks bad-temperedshowing irritation or an unfriendly mood, quiet, and unwillingnot wanting to do something or take part to talk.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈsʌlən/
Easy pronunciation: SUL-en (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: SUL-en.
Use this pronunciation for the adjective meaning showing a brooding ill humor.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sullen Meaning
bad-tempered, gloomy, and quiet
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: showing a brooding ill humor
Example: He sat in the corner with a sullen expression.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- dour — Fits the mood or expression sense well.
- glum — A natural close synonym for a gloomy, unhappy mood.
- moody — Works when someone is withdrawn and unpleasant in mood.
- morose — Strong synonym for a gloomy, unfriendly mood.
- sour — Can describe a bad-tempered attitude, though it is less exact.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Sullen
Meaning 2
dark and cloudy
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: darkened by clouds
Example: The sky looked sullen before the storm.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- heavy — Works for the weather sense, as in heavy clouds or a heavy sky.
- lowering — A good match for a dark, threatening sky.
- threatening — Fits weather that looks like it may bring a storm.
- dark — A broad match for the weather sense, though less specific.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sullen Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- dour
- glum
- moody
- morose
darkened by clouds
- heavy
- lowering
- threatening
- dark
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use sullen for ordinary sadness alone; it usually suggests a gloomy, unfriendly, or withdrawn attitude.
- Do not confuse the weather sense with the mood sense: a sullen sky is dark and cloudy, while a sullen person is brooding or bad-tempered.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sullen mean?
Sullen usually means gloomy, bad-tempered, and quiet, but it can also describe dark, cloudy weather.
What are the best synonyms for sullen?
For the person sense, good synonyms include dour, glum, moody, and morose. For the weather sense, lowering and threatening are strong matches.
Is sullen a positive or negative word?
It is usually negative. It suggests gloom, bad temper, or an unfriendly mood.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.