Surly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Surly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. 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"

   similar: glum, mopey, pouting, pouty, sulky, sullen
   related: dour, gloomy, morose, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, testy, waspish, brooding, moping, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, huffy, sensitive, temperamental, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy
   near: sociable, cheerful, cheery, gladsome, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered, perky, sunny, carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed

2. having or showing a habitually bad temper

   "the surly receptionist told us we'd have to wait outside in the rain"

   similar: acid, bearish, bilious, bloody-minded (chiefly British), cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, splenetic
   related: choleric, crabby, cranky, crotchety, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, querulous, irascible, irritable, peevish, peppery, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippy, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, cussed, angry, exasperated, indignant, irate, mad, upset, uptight, depressed, dour, glum, morose, sullen, anal, old-maidish, schoolmarmish
   opposite: amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered
   near: agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant, benign, gentle, kind, nice, sweet, bubbly, cheerful, cheery, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, joyful, lighthearted, lively, vivacious, content, glad, happy, calm, placid, serene, long-suffering, patient, tolerant