sulky

American  

[suhl-kee] / ˈsʌl ki /

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.

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noun

plural

sulkies

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

sulky ¹ British  

/ ˈsʌlkɪ /

adjective

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 sullen, withdrawn, or moody, through or as if through resentment

2. dull or dismal

   sulky weather

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sulky ² British  

/ ˈsʌlkɪ /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of sulky

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

Explanation

Someone who's sulky is gloomy, or quietly unhappy. A sulky teenager is generally not a lot of fun at a family party. Some people tend to be sulky when they're unhappy or disappointed — when you're sulky, you're not just sad, but you mope and frown and sigh. You might be sulky if your brother gets to travel to England and you don't, or if your coworker gets a promotion instead of you. Sulky probably comes from an Old English word, asolcen, "idle, lazy, or slow," which has a Proto-Germanic root.

Example Sentences

It's a good thing for Manchester United that 'Old Sulky Pants', Cristiano Ronaldo, will not be involved after throwing his toys out of the pram against Spurs.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2022

Now, it was only Gaines and Kodi in the apartment on Sulky Court, and an increasing number — eventually dozens — of tactical, hostage negotiation and patrol officers outside.

From Washington Post • Nov. 5, 2016

Sulky, petulant, wary — all these initially seem true of Barbara, so much so that you may forget that this unflattering, condescending characterization has been made by a Stasi operative.

From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2012

Meanwhile Sulky teenager Andre Villas-Boas believes Porto's midfielder Joao Moutinho will be too pricey for Spurs.

From The Guardian • Aug. 17, 2012

Sulky little boys and girls have a lesson to learn from them in this, so that even a duckling is a teacher at times, if we can only read our lesson aright.

From A Winter Nosegay Being Tales for Children at Christmastide by Crane, Walter