Sulkiness
/ˈsʌl.ki.nəs/noun
The quality of being sullen, gloomy, or resentfully withdrawn.
Did you know?Although the exact origin of the root is uncertain, English likely built this word from the older verb *sulk*, which has long carried the sense of pouting or lingering in dark silence rather than speaking openly.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
sulk
“To be silent, gloomy, or moody in a resentful way”
16th Century
English
sulkie
“Moody, morose, or sulky”
17th Century
English
sulkiness
“The state of being sulky or resentfully silent”
Modern English
English
sulkiness
“The quality of being gloomy, pouty, or resentfully withdrawn”
Explore more surprising origins