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Amicable vs Sullen - What's the difference?

amicable | sullen |

As adjectives the difference between amicable and sullen

is that amicable is showing friendliness or goodwill while sullen is having a brooding ill temper; sulky.

As a noun sullen is

one who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit.

amicable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Showing friendliness or goodwill.
    • They hoped to reach an amicable agreement.
    He was an amicable fellow with an easy smile.

    Usage notes

    Amicable is particularly used of relationships or agreements (especially legal proceedings, such as divorce), with meaning ranging from simply “not quarrelsome, mutually consenting” to “quite friendly”. By contrast, the similar term amiable is especially used to mean “pleasant, lovable”, such as an “amiable smile”.The Penguin Wordmaster Dictionary,'' Martin Manser and Nigel Turton, eds., 1987, cited in “ Wordmaster: amiable, amicable]”, ''[http://itsmypulp.wordpress.com/ all songs lead back t' the sea], 23 Oct 2009, by [http://itsmypulp.wordpress.com/author/itsmypulp/ NTWrong

    Derived terms

    * amicability * amicableness * amicable number * amicably

    Related terms

    * amiable * amity

    References

    External links

    * * *

    sullen

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a brooding ill temper; sulky.
  • * Prior
    • And sullen I forsook the imperfect feast.
  • Gloomy; dismal; foreboding.
  • * 1593 , , IV. v. 88:
    • Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change;
    (Milton)
  • Sluggish; slow.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • The larger stream was placid, and even sullen , in its course.
  • (obsolete) Lonely; solitary; desolate.
  • (obsolete) Mischievous; malignant; unpropitious.
  • * Dryden
    • Such sullen planets at my birth did shine.
  • (obsolete) Obstinate; intractable.
  • * Tillotson
    • Things are as sullen as we are.

    Synonyms

    * sulky, morose

    Antonyms

    * cheerful * content * lighthearted * pleased

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) One who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit.
    • (Piers Plowman)
  • Sullen feelings or manners; sulks; moroseness.
    • to have the sullens
  • * 1593 , , II. i. 139:
    • And let them die that age and sullens have;
    English adjectives ending in -en