Sullen

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌlən/

Definitions of sullen

adjective showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve

Example Sentences

A1 She looked sullen after losing the game.

A2 The sullen teenager refused to talk to anyone.

B1 His sullen attitude made it difficult to work with him.

B2 The sullen expression on her face hinted at deeper emotions.

C1 Despite his sullen demeanor, he was actually a very kind person.

C2 Her sullen mood lifted when she received good news.

Examples of sullen in a Sentence

formal The sullen expression on her face indicated that she was not in a good mood.

informal He sat in the corner looking sullen and refusing to talk to anyone.

slang She gave me a sullen look before storming off.

figurative The dark clouds in the sky cast a sullen shadow over the town.

Grammatical Forms of sullen

• past tense: sullened
• plural: sullens
• comparative: more sullen
• superlative: most sullen
• present tense: sullens
• future tense: will sullen
• perfect tense: have sullened
• continuous tense: is sullening
• singular: sullen
• positive degree: sullen
• infinitive: to sullen
• gerund: sullening
• participle: sullening

Origin and Evolution of sullen

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'sullen' originated from Middle English 'solein' or 'sullen', which came from Old French 'solin' meaning solitary or gloomy.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'sullen' has evolved to represent a mood or attitude of being silent, morose, or bad-tempered, rather than just being solitary or gloomy.