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
Somehow he wrangles a group of five surly boys until one of their rich fathers comes through and whisks away four.
From Salon • Feb. 16, 2024
On the one hand, you had Ramsay, a surly perfectionist, firing a waiter for drinking water in view of customers.
From New York Times • Jan. 27, 2024
From the very beginning she was surly with me, and she didn’t have to worry about getting over any Electra complex, because she never had one.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
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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