sulky

[suhl-kee]

adjective

sulkier, sulkiest 

1. marked by or given to sulking; sullen.

   Synonyms: churlish, morose, surly, moody
   Antonyms: good-natured, good-humored

2. gloomy or dull.

   sulky weather.

noun

plural

sulkies 

1. a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage for one person.

sulky

¹

/ ˈsʌlkɪ /

adjective

1. sullen, withdrawn, or moody, through or as if through resentment

2. dull or dismal

   sulky weather

sulky

²

/ ˈsʌlkɪ /

noun

1. a light two-wheeled vehicle for one person, usually drawn by one horse

Other Word Forms

• sulkily adverb
• sulkiness noun
• unsulkily adverb
• unsulkiness noun
• unsulky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulky¹

1735–45; akin to Old English solcen- lazy (in solcennes laziness), Frisian (N dial.) sulkig sulky

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulky¹

C18: perhaps from obsolete sulke sluggish, probably related to Old English āseolcan to be lazy

Origin of sulky²

C18: from _sulky ¹ , because it can carry only one person

Example Sentences

This is all so he can coddle his sulky, wild teenage son while expecting Carrie to limit all extracurricular cuddles to her adopted kitty, Shoe.

Read more on Salon

They lost one to the Beatles which might explain the sulky look here.

Read more on BBC

Those close to the governor say Newsom is in a much better place now than the pouty, sulky space he occupied in the months after President Biden stepped aside and anointed Harris as his successor.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

No sniggering jokes now about princely flings and sulky princesses and body doubles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“If we took a car, we could slump down, out of sight,” he said, and instantly regretted how sulky he sounded.

Read more on Literature