surly — bad-tempered and unfriendly
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: bad-tempered and unfriendly
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsɜːrli/
Example Sentences
- The surly bouncer wouldn't even look at my ID before saying no.
- My cat becomes surly whenever it's bath time.
- The surly teenager grunted instead of answering properly.
surly
ADJECTIVE[/ˈsɜːrli/]
bad-tempered and unfriendly
someone being bad-tempered and unfriendly toward others
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'sirly', originally meaning 'lordly' or 'imperious' (from 'sir' + '-ly'). The meaning gradually shifted from 'lordly and dignified' to 'arrogantly lordly' and finally to 'bad-tempered and rude'.
Breakdown
sir (lord, master) + -ly (having the quality of) - evolved from positive 'lordly' to negative 'rudely domineering'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The surly bouncer wouldn't even look at my ID before saying no.”
“My cat becomes surly whenever it's bath time.”
“The surly teenager grunted instead of answering properly.”
“Even the morning coffee couldn't fix his surly mood.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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