Surly

Pronunciation: /ˈsɜrli/

Definitions of surly

adjective bad-tempered and unfriendly; sullen and rude in manner

Example Sentences

A1 The surly man at the store refused to help me find the right aisle.

A2 She gave me a surly look when I asked her to pass the salt.

B1 The surly receptionist made me feel unwelcome at the hotel.

B2 Despite his surly demeanor, he was actually quite helpful once I got to know him.

C1 The surly customer service representative was unprofessional and rude.

C2 Her surly attitude towards her coworkers made it difficult to work together effectively.

Examples of surly in a Sentence

formal The surly customer refused to speak to the manager.

informal Why is he always so surly in the mornings?

slang Don't be so surly, dude. Chill out.

figurative The storm clouds gathered, casting a surly shadow over the town.

Grammatical Forms of surly

• past tense: surlily
• plural: surlies
• comparative: surlier
• superlative: surliest
• present tense: surly
• future tense: will be surly
• perfect tense: have been surly
• continuous tense: is being surly
• singular: surly
• positive degree: surly
• infinitive: to be surly
• gerund: being surly
• participle: surlying

Origin and Evolution of surly

First Known Use: 1300 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'surly' originated from the Middle English word 'surlie' which means arrogant or haughty.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'surly' has shifted to refer to someone who is bad-tempered, unfriendly, or rude.