sulkiness
Brooding bad mood
Sulkiness is a mood of silent resentment or ill humor, typically shown by withdrawal and refusal to engage.
It suggests brooding displeasure rather than open complaint: His sulkiness after losing the game lasted all evening.
The word often implies childishness—adults described as sulky are acting beneath their years.
Ill-tempered and peevish
- grumpyIrritable in temperament
- testyShort-tempered, easily provoked
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- peevishHabitually fretful
snappish · cross · fretful · irascible · tetchy · fractious · querulous · short-tempered
Sullenly ill-humored
- glumQuietly dejected
- sullenSilently bad-tempered
- moodyProne to sullenness
- discontentedUnhappy with circumstances
unhappy · downcast · dejected · crestfallen · woebegone · moping · brooding · dour
Sullen in expression
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- stubbornRefusing to change course
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
- passive-aggressiveIndirectly expressing resentment
petulant · churlish · obstinate · intractable · huffy · mulish · contrary · recalcitrant
Sharp, unpleasant taste
- grudgingReluctant, resentful in giving
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
- aggrievedFeeling unjustly wronged
offended · indignant · wronged · smoldering · simmering · wounded · slighted · snubbed
Prolonged, repetitive thinking
- dwellingPlace of residence
- stewingCooking low and slow
- wallowingIndulging without restraint
- fixatingFocusing to excess
nursing · mulling · preoccupation · introspection · withdrawal · retreating · self-pity · internalizing
cranky
Ill-tempered and peevish
peevish · snappish · cross · fretful · irascible · tetchy · fractious · querulous · short-tempered · cantankerous
morose
Sullenly ill-humored
discontented · unhappy · downcast · dejected · crestfallen · woebegone · moping · brooding · dour · sour
pouty
Sullen in expression
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- stubbornRefusing to change course
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
passive-aggressive · petulant · churlish · obstinate · intractable · huffy · mulish · contrary · recalcitrant · begrudging
bitter
Sharp, unpleasant taste
- grudgingReluctant, resentful in giving
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
aggrieved · offended · indignant · wronged · smoldering · simmering · wounded · slighted · snubbed · victimized
rumination
Prolonged, repetitive thinking
fixating · nursing · mulling · preoccupation · introspection · withdrawal · retreating · self-pity · internalizing
- grumpinessgrumpiness, crankiness, moodiness, sullenness, grouchiness
- angeranger, rage, fury, wrath, ire
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
sulkinesscheerfulness
State of bright spirits
cheeriness · good humor · gaiety · lightheartedness · joviality
sulkinessaffability
Warm, friendly disposition
friendliness · amiability · amiableness · good-naturedness · geniality
sulkinessgraciousness
Courteous, kind demeanor
equanimity · acceptance · resilience · forbearance · composure
sulky, sulk, sulking, sulks, sulked, sulkily, sulkier, sulker, sulkiest