sulk

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈsʌlk/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/sʌlk/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(sulk)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sulk /sʌlk/USA pronunciation   v. [no object]
  1. to keep oneself from normal conversation or apart from others while remaining in a sullen, angry, or offended mood:When we told her she couldn't go to the dance, she sulked for days.

n. [countable]
  1. a state or fit of sulking.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
sulk (sulk),USA pronunciation  v.i. 
  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.

n. 
  1. a state or fit of sulking.
  2. sulks, ill-humor shown by sulking:to be in the sulks.
  3. Also, sulk′er. a person who sulks.
  • back formation from sulky 1775–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sulk /sʌlk/ vb
  1. (intransitive) 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 reprimanded
 n
  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
Etymology: 18th Century: perhaps a back formation from sulky1
'sulk' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
boudoir - mump - pet - pip - sook - boudeuse - grouty - grump - miff - mope - outsulk - pout - sulky
Collocations: what are you (all) in a sulk about?, put up with his sulks, try to get her out of her sulk, more...

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