surly

[ sur-lee ]

adjective

, sur·li·er, sur·li·est.

1. churlishly rude or bad-tempered:

   a surly waiter.

   Synonyms: crabby, grouchy, grumpy, cross, choleric, splenetic, irascible, brusque, uncivil, sullen

2. unfriendly or hostile; menacingly irritable:

   a surly old lion.

   Synonyms: malevolent, threatening

3. dark or dismal; menacing; threatening:

   a surly sky.

   Synonyms: ominous

4. Obsolete. lordly; arrogant.

surly

/ ˈsɜːlɪ /

adjective

1. sullenly ill-tempered or rude
2. (of an animal) ill-tempered or refractory
3. dismal
4. obsolete.
   arrogant

Derived Forms

• ˈsurliness, noun
• ˈsurlily, adverb

Other Words From

• surli·ly adverb
• surli·ness noun
• un·surli·ly adverb
• un·surli·ness noun
• un·surly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surly¹

First recorded in 1560–70; spelling variant of obsolete sirly “lordly, arrogant,” equivalent to sir + -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of surly¹

C16: from obsolete sirly haughty; see sir

Synonym Study

See glum.

Example Sentences

She also had to get used to the idea of who Lydia had become: a widowed mother with a surly unfun daughter who doesn’t believe in ghosts, dating a suspiciously doting hanger-on.

From Los Angeles Times

“We called him Angry Clown because he seemed so surly,” Tudyk says.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s entering surly adolescence like a hot comet and not thrilled to have a new stepmother.

From Los Angeles Times

But there can be striking similarities, like the parallels between that surly California contest 22 years ago and Biden’s tough reelection fight.

From Los Angeles Times

But it’s deeply surly at heart, as Malone and Wallen take turns lashing out at an ex who blames them after a relationship crumbles.

From New York Times

Related Words

• boorish
• dour
• irritable
• morose
• rude
• sullen
• testy
• ugly