surliness

sur·ly

S s

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [sur-lee]
- /ˈsɜr li/
- /ˈsɜːlɪnəs/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [sur-lee]
- /ˈsɜr li/

Definitions of surliness word

adjective surliness churlishly rude or bad-tempered: a surly waiter. Synonyms: sullen, uncivil, brusque, irascible, splenetic, choleric, cross; grumpy, grouchy, crabby. 1
adjective surliness unfriendly or hostile; menacingly irritable: a surly old lion. Synonyms: threatening, malevolent. 1
adjective surliness dark or dismal; menacing; threatening: a surly sky. Synonyms: ominous. 1
adjective surliness Obsolete. lordly; arrogant. 1

See all 4 definitions of surliness

Information block about the term

Origin of surliness

First appearance:

before 1560

One of the 32% oldest English words

1560-70; spelling variant of obsolete sirly lordly, arrogant, equivalent to sir + -ly

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Surliness

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Surliness

surliness popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 94% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

surliness usage trend in Literature

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Synonyms for surliness

noun surliness

cantankerousness — disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish: a cantankerous, argumentative man.
crossness — the quality or state of being cross or angry; irritability; snappishness.
ill humor — a disagreeable or surly mood.
irascibility — easily provoked to anger; very irritable: an irascible old man.

All 12 Synonyms of surliness