Words / C1

SUL-uh-n/ˈsʌlən/

Sullen means silently bad-tempered and resentful: a sullen foyer, a sullen cohort. Silent (already in the dictionary) is everyday; a mood in the lobby is still an incident file.

Meaning

Silently bad-tempered and resentful (from silent, already in the dictionary).

Examples

• “A sullen foyer is an incident file, not “banter”.”
• “Silent is already in this course. Moody is the close twin. Banter is talk. A log is a file. Write the incident; then keep the banter if the clause still sits on a fact.”

Good to know

Silently bad-tempered. Everyday: silent (already in the dictionary). Banter ≠ an incident file.

Near in meaning

sulky, morose, glum

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