surly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The presence of the surly uncle, insufferable in-law, or grating girlfriend at the holiday table can make it hard to truly count one’s blessings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
I recommend creating a “go box” for your family to have when you slip these surly bonds of earth.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 20, 2025
When reporters learned his cousin Buono was his suspected accomplice, they drove to Glendale but found him a surly subject.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2025
That said, it was adorably quaint to see the recent midseason cliffhanger brawl be kicked off by a surly Russian sensei that resembles Zangief from “Street Fighter.”
From Salon • Feb. 13, 2025
It came from the surly angers of Gawaine, the fripperies of Mordred, and the sarcasms of Agravaine.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Vocabulary lists containing surly
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 7
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