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Definition of surliness

surliness

/ˈsɜːr.li.nəs/
sur · li · ness
Adverb:surlily
•
Adjective:surly
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surliness Lexical Profile

surliness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The quality or state of being bad-tempered, unfriendly, and sullenly rude.

Example

"The waiter's unexpected surliness made the guests feel unwelcome at the restaurant."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for surliness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for surliness

• Rhymes for surliness

• Nearby Words

suricate
surinam coral snake
suriname
surliness
surly
surma
surma river

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the adjective 'surly' plus the suffix '-ness'. 'Surly' evolved from the earlier English 'sirly' (meaning 'like a sir' or 'lordly'), which gradually shifted in meaning from 'imperious and arrogant' to 'churlish and ill-tempered'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Surliness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/surliness
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