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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surly
Now 82 years old, Chase comes off as a surly, forgetful man.
—
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Neither would have agreed to portray a skinny ping pong hustler with a surly disposition and bad complexion.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Everyone is welcoming and warm—other than a free-roaming ostrich, curious and slightly surly, which keeps skittish guard over the entire site.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Remember how in 2023 when swarms of these surly, entitled freeloaders suddenly materialized – in Terminal E, of all places.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surly
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Neither would have agreed to portray a skinny ping pong hustler with a surly disposition and bad complexion.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Everyone is welcoming and warm—other than a free-roaming ostrich, curious and slightly surly, which keeps skittish guard over the entire site.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Remember how in 2023 when swarms of these surly, entitled freeloaders suddenly materialized – in Terminal E, of all places.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surly
Adjective
-
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
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On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
My father was also sullen from the vodka, and after grumbling some would fall asleep on his grungy sleeper berth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
And Venter’s fiery and edgy Jessie May is sullen, controlling and cruel.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Colt Gray sent grandmother concerning texts In her testimony, Polhamus reviewed several angry, vulgar text messages from Colt Gray that showed his spiraling mental health and penchant for outbursts.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
When Fiyero chooses to leave with Elphaba, Glinda’s left heartbroken and angry.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Keep an eye out for chartreuses, browns, and bright sky blues, along with sulky mauves and beiges in a plaster finish.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Feb. 2026
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After a strange courtship ritual—in which, as a favor to Liveright, Cerf accompanied the writer Theodore Dreiser to an afternoon baseball game that the latter man, bored, sulky, whisked them from around the sixth inning—Cerf took the job.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Close leads the series as Maud Oldcastle, an older woman described as cantankerous and also a killer.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Lori Tan Chinn charms as a cantankerous Chinatown grandmother, while Jamie Lee Curtis makes a memorable meal of her single scene as a mob boss.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Kelly made a pouty face at Correa, who started walking toward the Dodger dugout.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Chanelling Miss Sara Bellum from the Powerpuff Girls, her secretarial deep burgundy ringlets were cut into pouty bangs that almost totally concealed her eyes.—
Essence,
Essence,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But Duvall rose to prominence the next decade, first as the ornery Major Frank Burns in the 1970 antiwar comedy M*A*S*H, reuniting with Robert Altman, who’d previously cast him in 1967’s Countdown.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
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This bag is a high-capacity workhorse, with plenty of organization features, tough materials that can handle ornery baggage handlers, and smooth-rolling wheels for pain-free airport navigation.—
Outside,
Outside,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Like most who have their disagreements with Looney, the governor rarely finds Looney personally disagreeable.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
2 Feb. 2026
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Each time Trump changes the subject, the new subject somehow manages to be more disagreeable than the last.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Washington Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surly. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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