sullenness
Resentful, withdrawn demeanor
Sullenness is a state of brooding, resentful silence—the mood of someone who feels wronged but won't discuss it.
Where anger erupts, sullenness simmers.
It often implies childishness or passive aggression: His sullenness after losing the argument lasted all evening.
The word carries judgment; to call someone sullen is rarely neutral.
Habitually uncommunicative
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
- silentProducing no sound
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
- withdrawnEmotionally distant, disengaged
unresponsive · reticent · aloof · reserved · brooding · stony · cold shoulder · standoffish
Sullenly ill-humored
- dourSternly gloomy
- gloomyDark and dispiriting
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- somberGravely serious in mood
despondent · dejected · downcast · glum · crestfallen · forlorn · woeful · saturnine
Angry facial expression
- frownDisapproving facial expression
- unsmilingNot showing amusement
- gloweringStaring with displeasure
- stony-facedShowing no emotion
dark look · lowering · pouting · glaring · black look · thunderous · stormy · pursed lips
Moody and silently resentful
- surlyBad-tempered and unfriendly
- grumpyIrritable in temperament
- poutySullen in expression
- petulantChildishly bad-tempered
peevish · moody · irritable · churlish · cantankerous · crabby · cross · testy
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- indignationAnger from mistreatment
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
displeasure · dissatisfaction · rancor · spite · acrimony · smoldering · simmering · umbrage
taciturn
Habitually uncommunicative
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
- silentProducing no sound
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
withdrawn · unresponsive · reticent · aloof · reserved · brooding · stony · cold shoulder · standoffish · distant
morose
Sullenly ill-humored
- dourSternly gloomy
- gloomyDark and dispiriting
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
somber · despondent · dejected · downcast · glum · crestfallen · forlorn · woeful · saturnine · disconsolate
scowl
Angry facial expression
stony-faced · dark look · lowering · pouting · glaring · black look · thunderous · stormy · pursed lips · narrowed eyes
sulky
Moody and silently resentful
petulant · peevish · moody · irritable · churlish · cantankerous · crabby · cross · testy · snappish
bitterness
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- indignationAnger from mistreatment
discontent · displeasure · dissatisfaction · rancor · spite · acrimony · smoldering · simmering · umbrage · ill will
- bad attitudesnegativity, cynicism, pessimism, hostility, contempt
- grumpinessgrumpiness, crankiness, moodiness, grouchiness, irritability
- humeurjoy, sadness, anger, fear, mood
- unfriendlinessunfriendliness, coldness, hostility, rudeness, aloofness
- angeranger, rage, fury, wrath, ire
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
sullennesscheerfulness
State of bright spirits
cheeriness · brightness · lightheartedness · gaiety · gayety
sullennessfriendliness
Warm, welcoming disposition
warmth · affability · amiability · amiableness · geniality
sullennesssociability
Tendency toward friendly interaction
sociality · gregariousness · talkativeness · expansiveness · animation
sullen, gloominess, glumness, sullenly, cheerlessness, moroseness, dolefulness