What is another word for surly?
Synonyms for surly
ˈsɜr lisur·ly
This thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word surly.
English Synonyms and Antonyms
surly
The sullen and sulky are discontented and resentful in regard to that against which they are too proud to protest, or consider all protest vain; sullen denotes more of pride, sulky more of resentful obstinacy. The morose are bitterly dissatisfied with the world in general, and disposed to vent their ill nature upon others. The sullen and sulky are for the most part silent; the morose growl out bitter speeches. A surly person is in a state of latent anger, resenting approach as intrusion, and ready to take offense at anything; thus we speak of a surly dog. Sullen and sulky moods may be transitory; one who is morose or surly is commonly so by disposition or habit.
Synonyms:
acrimonious, churlish, crabbed, crusty, dogged, gloomy, gruff, ill-humored, ill-natured, morose, severe, snappish, sour, splenetic, sulky, sullenAntonyms:
amiable, benignant, bland, complaisant, friendly, genial, gentle, good-natured, indulgent, kind, loving, mild, pleasant, sympathetic, tender
Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms
Princeton's WordNet
surly, uglyadjective
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
"a surly waiter"; "an ugly frame of mind"
Synonyms:
frightful, horrifying, worthless, despicable, unworthy, slimy, atrocious, horrible, vile, ugly, wretchedAntonyms:
good-natured
Dictionary of English Synonymes
Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Words popularity by usage frequency
ranking | word | |
---|---|---|
#3964 | severe | |
#5548 | rough | |
#7689 | ugly | |
#8709 | horrible | |
#12027 | sour | |
#20769 | worthless | |
#27379 | vile | |
#28701 | gloomy | |
#30945 | wretched | |
#38945 | unworthy | |
#39885 | horrifying | |
#41434 | crusty | |
#46824 | surly | |
#47706 | despicable | |
#48820 | slimy | |
#50274 | atrocious | |
#50489 | dogged | |
#54515 | frightful | |
#58451 | sullen | |
#60813 | gruff | |
#75120 | snarling | |
#77150 | sulky | |
#84515 | uncivil | |
#86369 | morose | |
#103017 | acrimonious | |
#149185 | churlish | |
#238388 | snappish | |
#251752 | crabbed |
How to use surly in a sentence?
When chill November's surly blast make fields and forest bare.
If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning Good morning at total strangers.
If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Translations for surly
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- überheblichGerman
- κατσούφηςGreek
- malhumorado, irritado, inamistosoSpanish
- hapan, uhkaava, koppava, pahantuulinen, pöyhkeä, töykeäFinnish
- autoritaire, grognon, impoli, rude, arrogant, menaçant, morne, grincheuxFrench
- mosachIrish
- gruamachScottish Gaelic
- scontrosoItalian
- 無愛想なJapanese
- arrogant, knorrig, onbeleefd, mistroostig, bazig, bars, bedreigendDutch
- угрожающий, грубый, сердитый, грозный, неприветливый, спеси́вый, угрюмый, надменный, высокоме́рныйRussian
- buttreSwedish
Get even more translations for surly »
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"surly." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 17 Feb. 2025. <https://www.synonyms.com/synonym/surly>.
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