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surliness

noun

Definition of surlinessnext
as in sulkiness

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of surliness Despite Nora’s initial surliness, Alice wins her over a bit by offering her blazer to a young witness who is supposed to appear in court the next day. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 27 July 2026 Dani’s surliness has evaporated. — Harpers Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025 The Dolphins knew in the spring that Jalen Ramsey’s tardiness and surliness did not fit the culture that the organization wanted to build. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025 But at least Chalamet doesn’t try to soft pedal Dylan’s surliness and careerism, and his vocal re-creations are mostly spot on. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surliness
  1. grumpiness
  2. petulance
  3. grouchiness
  4. irritability
  5. crankiness
  6. testiness
  7. belligerence
  8. crustiness
Noun
  • Newcastle just about hauled themselves back from the precipice, but this has been a faith-shaker of a season and, at times, grumpiness has set in.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 May 2026
  • Allowing your child to sleep as normal will prevent grumpiness and diminish jet lag.
    — Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2017
Definition of grumpiness
Noun
  • Even Wilfried Zaha, with all his on-pitch petulance, never allowed standards to slip.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Cusick and Kretschmann offer complementary chords of variable petulance and insecurity, as newcomer Cuoso ably negotiates her character’s shifting ambiguities.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2026
Definition of petulance
Noun
  • Vince Gilligan moved to Apple and returned to his X-Files roots for the sci-fi horror dramatic comedy Pluribus, which used its ultra-mysterious and yet ultra-familiar genre trappings for a droll meditation on the eternal clash between collective joy and individual grouchiness.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
  • Emily is also struggling with Annabelle, who has inherited her mom’s attitude and the grouchiness of any adolescent forced to grow up with an Evolution Media camera crew in her home.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of grouchiness
Noun
  • Needing coffee immediately upon waking and experiencing afternoon fatigue, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and sugar cravings.
    — Marie Bladt, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Even one night of not getting enough rest can mean irritability, memory issues, focus and, worse, mood.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritability
Noun
  • Common warning signs include thirst, tiredness and crankiness.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
  • How to handle it A lot of Virgo’s crankiness can be soothed with helping them get organized and practice self-compassion.
    — Maressa Brown, Parents, 18 June 2026
Definition of crankiness
Noun
  • The Warriors trailed by 11 points after a first quarter notable mostly for some late Golden State testiness.
    — Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Jan. 2026
  • Corbett said the testiness started in Florida and returned with the team to Charlotte.
    — Joseph Person, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of testiness
Noun
  • Trump's belligerence reinvigorated Canada's Liberal Party, with Mark Carney winning the April 2025 election to continue on as prime minister.
    — Chris Brennan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Unfortunately, however, the warmth and love of the old pub-rocking 101’ers has been traded for a new aggression and belligerence.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of belligerence
Noun
  • There’s probably not much of a mystery bubbling around the pizza plaza’s sudden crustiness toward the Super Bowl.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Use disposable products like gauze or cotton swabs to gently remove build-up or crustiness.
    — Sherri Gordon, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of crustiness

Browse Nearby Words

surging
surliness
surly
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Cite this Entry

“Surliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surliness. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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