sulker

A sulker is a person who tends to sulk or withdraw into a mood of silent resentment. The term is most commonly used in informal speech to describe someone who becomes quiet, pouts, or avoids social interaction after feeling slighted or disappointed. The noun is often paired with the adjective sulky, which can refer to both the mood and the demeanor of a sulker. The word carries a mildly pejorative connotation, implying passivity rather than aggression.

Etymology and usage: Sulker derives from sulk, with the agent noun suffix -er. It has been part of English since at least the early modern period and remains colloquial rather than technical. In everyday contexts, people may describe a habitual pattern of withdrawal by saying someone is a sulker or that they are sulking.

In psychology, sociology, and education, discussions of sulking may address mood regulation, social communication, or developmental factors, particularly among children and adolescents. In such contexts, the term is used descriptively rather than diagnostically, and it often serves as a shorthand for a temporary emotional state rather than a persistent personality trait.

In popular culture, sulker characters appear in fiction and media as quiet or moody individuals whose primary mode of interaction is nonverbal or indirect. The term is used broadly to convey emotional distance, reluctance to engage with others, or a desire to withdraw from uncomfortable social situations.

See also sulk; sulking; moodiness.