Sulky
/ˈsʌlki/
adjectiveB1
Definition
Sulky means feeling upset or angry but not showing it loudly. Instead, a sulky person stays quiet, maybe frowning or not wanting to join in. It often happens when someone feels hurt or ignored and shows it by being moody or silent.
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See It in Action
Describing a quiet, moody, unhappy mood
- •She was sulky all afternoon after the argument.
- •The child became sulky when told to stop playing.
- •He gave a sulky look when he did not get the prize.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'sulky' like 'sad,' but with a little anger inside, and the person does not talk about it.
- ✓Picture a child crossing their arms, looking down, and not smiling because they did not get their way.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want attention because you are upset but do not want to say why.
- ✓Sounds like 'SUL-kee' → Imagine someone pulling a small sulk (quiet anger) like a little storm inside.
- ✓Think of a character in a story who pouts quietly after losing a game instead of shouting.
- ✓NOT like 'angry' (which is loud and active), sulky is quiet and passive.
- ✓NOT like 'happy,' sulky is the opposite mood, showing unhappiness in a soft way.
- ✓NOT like 'crying,' sulky is more about silent moodiness, not tears.
Try Other Words
- •Moody: having changing or bad moods (Use when mood changes often, not just quiet anger)
- •Grumpy: easily annoyed or bad-tempered (Use when someone shows anger more openly)
- •Pouty: showing unhappiness by pushing out lips (Use when the person shows a visible facial expression of unhappiness)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root 'sulk' + suffix '-y' (makes adjective meaning 'having the quality of sulk')
- •Etymology: From the verb 'sulk,' which means to be silent and angry, from Old English 'solcian' meaning to be silent or morose
- •Historical development: 'Sulky' has been used since the 1500s to describe a quiet, unhappy mood or attitude
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe children or people who are quietly showing they are upset without speaking
Reflect & Connect
•When have you seen someone acting sulky, and how did you feel about it?
•Can being sulky help solve problems, or does it make communication harder?
Fill in the blanks
1.After losing the game, she stayed sulky and refused to ___ with the others.
2.A sulky person often shows their feelings by being ___ and not talking.
3.Unlike being angry and shouting, sulky means being upset in a ___ way.
4.When someone is sulky, they might ___ their lips or avoid eye contact.
5.Children sometimes get sulky when they do not get their ___.
6.Being sulky can make it hard for others to know what you really ___.
7.If someone is sulky, they usually do not want to ___ about their feelings.