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Surliness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Surliness is a bad-tempered or unfriendly manner, often shown through rude or grumpy behavior. It describes someone who is easily irritated and unwilling to be pleasant or cooperative.

surliness

/ˈsɜrlinəs/ /ˈsɜːlinəs/

Definition:

Bad-tempered or unfriendly behavior; a grumpy or sullen attitude.

Synonyms:

surliness, grumpiness, irritability, sullenness, churlishness

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

friendliness, cheerfulness, amiability

Common Collocations:

display surliness, habitual surliness, respond with surliness, mask of surliness, sudden surliness

Derivatives:

surly, surlier, surliest

Usage Tips:

Use "surliness" to describe someone's consistently rude or unfriendly demeanor in formal or informal contexts.

Common Phrases:

"a cloud of surliness, " "his usual surliness, " "surliness in his tone"

Etymology:

Derived from "surly," meaning arrogant or rude, originating from Middle English "sirly" (lordly).

Examples:

  • 1. His constant surliness made the team uncomfortable.
  • 2. She responded with unexpected surliness to the simple request.
  • 3. The clerk's surliness drove customers away from the shop.
  • 4. His usual cheerfulness was replaced by unexplained surliness today.

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