surly Definition
- 1bad-tempered and unfriendly
- 2unpleasant and rude in a way that shows you are not willing to be friendly to others
Using surly: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "surly" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The surly waiter ignored our requests.
Example
He gave me a surly look when I asked him for help.
Example
She was in a surly mood all day.
Example
The surly customer complained about everything.
surly Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with surly
a phrase from the poem 'High Flight' by John Gillespie Magee Jr., referring to the limitations of human existence on earth
Example
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
a type of beard style that is unkempt and untrimmed, often associated with a rough or gruff appearance
Example
He grew a surly beard during his camping trip.
a phrase used to describe the limitations of human existence, often in the context of aviation or space exploration
Example
The astronaut felt the surly bonds of gravity as he descended back to Earth.
Origins of surly
from Middle English 'sorli', meaning 'sullen'
Summary: surly in Brief
The term 'surly' [ˈsɜːrli] refers to someone who is bad-tempered, unfriendly, and unpleasant. It is often used to describe people who are rude and unwilling to be friendly to others. Examples include 'The surly waiter ignored our requests.' and 'The surly customer complained about everything.' 'Surly' can also be used in phrases like 'surly bonds of earth,' which refers to the limitations of human existence on earth.
