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Ostensible vs Sullen - What's the difference?

ostensible | sullen |

As adjectives the difference between ostensible and sullen

is that ostensible is apparent, evident; meant for open display while sullen is having a brooding ill temper; sulky.

As a noun sullen is

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

ostensible

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Apparent, evident; meant for open display.
  • * 1956–1960 , (second edition, 1960), chapter ii: “Motives and Motivation”, page 32:
    • Motives, of course, may be mixed; but this only means that a man aims at a variety of goals by means of the same course of action. Similarly a man may have a strong motive or a weak one, an ulterior motive or an ostensible one.
  • * '>citation
    • In witch-trials the conflict was officially defined as between the accused and God, or between the accused and the Catholic (later Protestant) church, as God's earthly representative. [...]
    Behind the ostensible conflict of the witch-trial lay the usual conflicts of social class, values, and human relationships.
  • Appearing as such; being such in appearance; professed, supposed (rather than demonstrably true or real).
    • The ostensible reason for his visit to New York was to see his mother, but the real reason was to get to the Yankees game the next day.

    Derived terms

    * ostensibly

    Antonyms

    * (meant for open display)

    Related terms

    * ostensive * ostentatious * ostentation

    References

    * ----

    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