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Definition of surly

surly

/ˈsɜːr.li/
sur · ly
Adverb:surlily
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surly Lexical Profile

surly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Bad-tempered, unfriendly, and sullenly rude in manner or disposition.

Example

"The surly clerk barely looked up from the counter when the customer asked a question."

2

Dark, menacing, and stormy in appearance (typically of the sky, weather, or sea).

Example

"The fishing boat returned to harbor just ahead of the surly winter clouds."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for surly

• Nearby Words

surinam coral snake
suriname
surliness
surly
surma
surma river
surmise

Word Origin & Etymology

Evolved in the 16th century from earlier 'sirly', formed from 'sir' plus '-ly', originally meaning 'lordly', 'imperious', or 'haughty', before shifting to mean 'rude and ill-humored'.

Cite this Entry

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