sulky Hear it!

sulky Definition

sulky (sul)

adjective sulki·er, sulki·est

  1. showing resentment or dissatisfaction by petulant or peevish withdrawal
  2. gloomy; dismal; sullen a sulky day

Etymology: prob. < OE -solcen (in comp.), idle, sluggish, pp. of -seolcan, to become slack < IE base *selĝ-, to let go, let loose > Sans sarjati, (he) releases

noun pl. sulk·ies

a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage having a seat for only one person, esp. now, one used in harness races

Etymology: prob. < sulkythe , in the sense of keeping aloof, because the vehicle seats only one person

sulky Related Forms
sulki·ly adverb sulki·ness noun
sulky Synonyms

sulky

modif.

cross, morose, surly, petulant; see irritable, sullen.

sulky Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • look: When it was light I peeped through the portholes and saw Belfast's dull wharves and warehouses looking sulky in the gray morning mist.
  • get: If I mention getting someone in to do these jobs he gets all sulky and hurt, so it's not worth it.

Modifies a noun

  • silence: Suspicious looks, sulky silences, or sharp speeches had become the order of the day.
  • teenager: Instead she just acted like a rather sulky teenager, whose boyfriend had deserted her.
  • tone: So of course Nobody walks slower than you. ' ' I do my best, ' the Messenger said in a sulky tone.
  • adolescent: The last time I'd been to that park was as a sulky adolescent on the number five bus.
  • dog: Heaven forbid anyone should see him as a sulky dog in the manger over pensions.
  • mood: When I spot him he gets up and almost in a sulky mood walks away to another spot to try again.

Modifying Another Word

  • very: He is very sulky about a caricature in the Evening Standard.
  • rather: Instead she just acted like a rather sulky teenager, whose boyfriend had deserted her.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: Anyway, glad to know I wasn't imagining it - he did look very sulky.
  • get: We're serious about this and will get very sulky with anyone entering more than once.
sulky Quotes

If I can but get the sulky Scottish spirit set up, the devil won't turn them.

—Scott, Sir Walter

Browse dictionary entries near sulky

  1. sulkiness
  2. sulk
  3. sulfuryl
  4. sulfury
  5. sulfurous acid
  6. sulfurous
  7. sulfurize
  8. sulfuric acid
  9. sulfuric
  10. sulfuret
  1. Sulla
  2. sullage
  3. sullen
  4. sullenly
  5. sullenness
  6. Sullivan
  7. Sullivan, Scott
  8. sully
  9. Sully-Prudhomme
  10. sulph-