adjective

sulky

SUHL-kee

Sulky (adjective) means Silent and bad-tempered, especially after being upset about something. Example: “The teenager gave a sulky shrug and left the room.”

adjective

Silent and bad-tempered, especially after being upset about something.

"The teenager gave a sulky shrug and left the room."

noun

A light, two-wheeled cart pulled by a single horse, used in harness racing.

"The trainer drove the sulky around the track at dawn."

How to use sulky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMoody and withdrawn, or (as a noun) a one-person horse-drawn racing cart.

Common pairings

a sulky teenager sulky racing

Word forms

sulkier comparative, sulkies plural, sulkiest superlative

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The teenager gave a _____ shrug and left the room.

Etymology

Related to sulk; the cart sense comes from the idea that it seats only one rider, "as if sulking" alone.

Rhymes for sulky

bulky

See all rhymes for sulky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sulky” mean?

The word “sulky” means silent and bad-tempered, especially after being upset about something. In plain terms, moody and withdrawn, or (as a noun) a one-person horse-drawn racing cart.

How do you pronounce “sulky”?

“Sulky” is pronounced SUHL-kee (/ˈsʌlki/ in IPA).

How do you use “sulky” in a sentence?

Here is “sulky” used in a sentence: “The teenager gave a sulky shrug and left the room.”

What part of speech is “sulky”?

Depending on how it is used, “sulky” can be an adjective and a noun.

How many meanings does “sulky” have?

“Sulky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: silent and bad-tempered, especially after being upset about something.