What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
crossly
Example
She spoke crossly to her children when they didn't listen. [crossly: adverb]
Example
He crossed his arms and looked at her crossly. [crossly: adverb]
testily
Example
He answered testily when asked the same question for the third time. [testily: adverb]
Example
She responded testily to his comment, feeling defensive. [testily: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Testily is more commonly used than crossly in everyday language. Testily is versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts, while crossly is less common and may be considered more old-fashioned or formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between crossly and testily?
Both crossly and testily are informal words that are typically used in casual conversation. However, crossly may be considered more formal or old-fashioned than testily.
