surly
adjective/ˈsɜːli/
/ˈsɜːrli/
(comparative surlier, superlative surliest)
- unfriendly and rude
- a surly youth
Oxford Collocations DictionarySurly is used with these nouns:- teenager
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘lordly, haughty, arrogant’): alteration of obsolete sirly (see sir, -ly).Want to learn more?
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