sulk

American  

[suhlk] / sʌlk /

verb (used without object)

1. to remain silent or hold oneself aloof in a sullen, ill-humored, or offended mood.

   Promise me that you won't sulk if I want to leave the party early.

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noun

1. a state or fit of sulking.

2. sulks, ill-humor shown by sulking.

   to be in the sulks.

3. Also sulker. a person who sulks.

sulk British  

/ sʌlk /

verb

1. (intr) to be silent and resentful because of a wrong done to one, esp in order to gain sympathy; brood sullenly

   the child sulked in a corner after being slapped

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noun

1. (often plural) a state or mood of feeling resentful or sullen

   he's in a sulk because he lost the game

   he's got the sulks

2. Also: sulker.  a person who sulks

Other Word Forms

• outsulk verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of sulk

First recorded in 1775–85; back formation from sulky

Example Sentences

But it was hard not to laugh, and Fred sulked at the bottom of the cove when Selkie finally let him go.

From Literature

That shows you his mentality - not sulking because he isn't playing but looking for alternatives.

From BBC

So does not sulking when kids don’t invite you on their vacation or forget to send Mother’s Day cards.

From The Wall Street Journal

"All players want to play, it's normal, it's what makes us happy. I have team-mates who want to play too, but no one sulks," Griezmann told reporters.

From Barron's

“Instead of sulking on, ‘Well, I tried this and it failed, now I don’t know where to go,’ I just used it as positive things, and eventually turned.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brood
• mope