1
as in pouting
given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability
went about his chores in a surly huff, totally annoyed that he was stuck at home on this beautiful Saturday
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irritable
having or showing a habitually bad temper
the surly receptionist told us we'd have to wait outside in the rain
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surly
Gardner laid down a vocal for it, caught up in the story’s surly sarcasm.
—
Tom Roland, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2025
The 44-year-old appeared to save his most surly moments in front of the media for when Leicester were doing well.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
My stepfather inherited a surly, punkish teen dude.
—Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
That criticism, along with other struggles, has seemingly influenced Davis to be in a surly and unpredictable mood over the past two months.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surly
Tom Roland, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2025
The 44-year-old appeared to save his most surly moments in front of the media for when Leicester were doing well.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
My stepfather inherited a surly, punkish teen dude.
—Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
That criticism, along with other struggles, has seemingly influenced Davis to be in a surly and unpredictable mood over the past two months.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surly
Adjective
-
And even in what was a stilted match played in an increasingly irritable atmosphere, Rogers and Tielemans delivered with an assist each.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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This stretch can worsen pain in people with back pain, very tight hamstrings, or irritable nerves.—
Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The four-run outing snapped a stretch of nine consecutive scoreless outings for the rookie, who was consoled by each member of this veteran bullpen in the cramped, sullen visiting clubhouse in Chicago.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
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Ramsey is reprising their role as Ellie, the sullen American teenager who is immune to the cordyceps fungus turning everyone else into zombies and who may, therefore, hold the key to humanity’s rescue.—
Zing Tsjeng,
Vogue,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The most unforgettable image for me was Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, who looked on intently as the bishop spoke, ignoring her husband’s angry scowl.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2025
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In a thousand-page decision, the Court provided no evidence that a temple had been destroyed to build the mosque, and acknowledged that the mosque had been torn down by an angry mob.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Playing Dawn Summers, Trachtenberg joined the show in 2000, as Buffy's younger sister, who was at times bratty, sulky, and a bit of a klutz — but nonetheless offered a new and exciting sibling dynamic for the show to explore.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
26 Feb. 2025
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Horse race At the harness racing week on the Freehold Raceway in New Jersey: a reverse race with the sulky fixed in front of the horse - 1930.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Oldman’s performance in the show has been widely praised and he’s earned both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for playing the cantankerous head of Slough House, Jackson Lamb.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
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The trust's extensive provisions are just an example of Barnes' quirky and often cantankerous nature.—
Blake Gopnik,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While the Pocket Blush is known for delivering gorgeous flushed cheeks in seconds, the Peptide Lip Shape is a recent favorite for perfectly contoured pouty lips.—
Kleigh Balugo,
StyleCaster,
12 Mar. 2025
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Johansen had the sharp, pouty features of Mick Jagger, but the sneer and savvy of his hometown.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Image Our collective longing to connect with animals is evident in the viral popularity of animal celebrities on social media — who can resist Pesto the chubby baby king penguin, Hua Hua the panda or Moo Deng, the ornery baby pygmy hippo?—
Alexandra Alter,
New York Times,
23 Mar. 2025
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Fitzgerald, 75, his daughter Heather Valdez, 53, and their team of family members, co-workers and an ornery parrot named Cisco have kept this wacky thrift-consignment-retail store afloat.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Befriending Cressida Cowper is a respectable exercise in recognizing biases, but the pair’s interactions are as disagreeable as those bangs.—
Zoe Haylock,
Vulture,
16 May 2024
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If Alex has a bit more credibility, not being as intractable in her positions, both have a tendency to come off as disagreeable in their incessant bickering and self-righteousness.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surly. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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