surly
adjective
Did you know?
In its very earliest uses in the 16th century, surly meant "majestic" or "lordly." These early meanings make sense when you know that this word is an alteration of Middle English "serreli," which probably comes from "sire, ser," a title formerly used as a form of address for men of rank or authority. So how did a word with such lofty beginnings come to be associated with grumbling rudeness? Arrogant and domineering behavior is sometimes associated with men of rank or position, and "surly" came to mean "haughty" or "imperious." These meanings (which are now obsolete) led to the "rude" sense that is very common today.
Synonyms
- glum
- mopey
- pouting
- pouty
- sulky
- sullen
Example Sentences
Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 23 Aug. 2022 And so Xander is packed off to Prague to embed himself in the underworld of 99's ex-Russian soldier ringleader Yorgi (Marton Csokas) and his surly girlfriend-slash-co-conspirator Yelena (Asia Argento). Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2022 Several states away, in Aurora, Ill., Thom’s sister, Aubrey, has her own preoccupations — a surly stepson, an elderly neighbor, a nefarious ex-husband, the need to persuade the guy who used to grow weed to switch to vegetables. New York Times, 20 July 2022 Schofield will appear as Phil, a surly, transgender manager of the NY bookstore where the main character works who is trying to become a novelist. Wilson Chapman, Variety, 7 July 2022 Montana, The Power of the Dog details the tensions and secrets that emerge when a wealthy rancher (Jesse Plemons) brings his new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) to live with his surly cowboy brother (Benedict Cumberbatch). Marley Marius, Vogue, 4 June 2022 Wednesday afternoon, Clive slipped the surly bonds of Earth's atmosphere and experienced space for himself. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 26 May 2022 The show chronicles the life of Beth Harmon, who loses her mother at a young age and is sent to live in an orphanage, where learning to play chess from the surly janitor in the basement is the only bright spot in her life. The Editors, Outside Online, 7 Dec. 2020 For 24-year-old Daniele — a surly, taciturn wastrel who serves as the film’s human focal point — life is only worth living on the water, ideally at great speed. Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
alteration of Middle English serreli lordly, imperious, probably from sire, ser sire
1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
surly
adjective
surly
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- pouting
- irritable
- sullen
- sulky
- pouty
- mopey
- glum
- brooding
- grumpy
- irascible
- petulant
- morose
- snappish
- grouchy
- dour
- peevish
- cross
- crotchety
- cantankerous
- sensitive
- crabby
- ornery
- snarky
- waspish
- disagreeable
- testy
- pettish
- snippy
- gloomy
- short-tempered
- down in the mouth
- cranky
- tetchy
- choleric
- raspy
- dyspeptic
- ill-tempered
- bilious
- quick-tempered
- huffy
- ill-humored
- moping
- temperamental
- ratty
- snippety
- prickly
- perverse
- ill-natured
- touchy
- snappy
- bearish
- thin-skinned
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cheerful
- sociable
- cheery
- perky
- easygoing
- sunny
- carefree
- good-natured
- good-humored
- good-tempered
- gladsome
- relaxed
- happy-go-lucky
Synonyms & Similar Words
- irritable
- angry
- cantankerous
- ornery
- exasperated
- disagreeable
- dyspeptic
- splenetic
- ill-tempered
- bilious
- ill-humored
- mad
- acid
- grumpy
- indignant
- irascible
- ill-natured
- bloody-minded
- grouchy
- petulant
- querulous
- upset
- snappish
- crotchety
- peevish
- bearish
- crabby
- irate
- sullen
- testy
- depressed
- uptight
- short-tempered
- choleric
- morose
- peppery
- snippy
- contentious
- cranky
- dour
- cussed
- quick-tempered
- argumentative
- touchy
- fussy
- glum
- contrary
- anal
- schoolmarmish
- old-maidish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amiable
- friendly
- pleasant
- congenial
- agreeable
- sweet
- gentle
- cheerful
- kind
- nice
- amicable
- good-natured
- benign
- good-humored
- exuberant
- cheery
- good-tempered
- happy
- joyful
- vivacious
- bubbly
- glad
- effervescent
- lively
- lighthearted
- calm
- content
- placid
- serene
- patient
- tolerant
- high-spirited
- long-suffering
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of surly are crabbed, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, and sullen. While all these words mean "showing a forbidding or disagreeable mood," surly implies gruffness and sullenness of speech or manner.
While in some cases nearly identical to surly, crabbed applies to a forbidding morose harshness of manner.
The words gloomy and surly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gloomy implies a depression in mood making for seeming sullenness or glumness.
The synonyms glum and surly are sometimes interchangeable, but glum suggests a silent dispiritedness.
Morose adds to glum an element of bitterness or misanthropy.
While the synonyms saturnine and surly are close in meaning, saturnine describes a heavy forbidding aspect or suggests a bitter disposition.
The meanings of sulky and surly largely overlap; however, sulky suggests childish resentment expressed in peevish sullenness.
In some situations, the words sullen and surly are roughly equivalent. However, sullen implies a silent ill humor and a refusal to be sociable.