sulk
3 synonyms for sulk, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it.
“He sulked in his room after losing the argument.”
How to use sulk
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
go into a sulk
sulk about something
Etymology
Believed to be a back-formation from sulky, ultimately traced to an Old English word meaning slothful or languid.
Full origin of sulk →Frequently asked questions
What does “sulk” mean?
The word “sulk” means to show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it. In plain terms, to go silent and moody when upset instead of talking it out.
How do you pronounce “sulk”?
“Sulk” is pronounced suhlk (/sʌlk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sulk” in a sentence?
Here is “sulk” used in a sentence: “He sulked in his room after losing the argument.”
What part of speech is “sulk”?
Depending on how it is used, “sulk” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “sulk” come from?
The word “sulk” comes from Old English. Believed to be a back-formation from sulky, ultimately traced to an Old English word meaning slothful or languid.
How many meanings does “sulk” have?
“Sulk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it.
