Surley vs. Surly — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 25, 2024
"Surley" is an incorrect spelling, whereas "Surly" is correct and refers to a bad-tempered or unfriendly disposition.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Surley or Surly
How to spell Surly?
Surley
Incorrect Spelling
Surly
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
There's no "e" between "r" and "l" in "surly."
Visualize a grumpy person and link it to "surly."
Relate "surly" to "unfriendly."
Think "surl" as in "curl."
"Surely, it’s 'surly'!"
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How Do You Spell Surly Correctly?
Incorrect: Her tone became surley when she was interrupted.
Correct: Her tone became surly when she was interrupted.
Incorrect: The waiter was surley to the customers.
Correct: The waiter was surly to the customers.
Incorrect: He had a reputation for being surley in the mornings.
Correct: He had a reputation for being surly in the mornings.
Incorrect: The surley clerk refused to answer any questions.
Correct: The surly clerk refused to answer any questions.
Incorrect: Despite his surley demeanor, he was very kind-hearted.
Correct: Despite his surly demeanor, he was very kind-hearted.
Surly Definitions
Hostile or irritable in manner or speech.
The coach gave a surly response to the reporter’s question.
Churlish or moody in disposition.
His surly attitude made him few friends.
Displaying a rude or bad-tempered demeanor.
The waiter was surly and inattentive.
Abrasive or inclined to anger.
She was surly after her morning coffee spilled.
Sullenly ill-humored; gruff.
Threatening, as of weather conditions; ominous
Surly clouds filled the sky.
(Obsolete) Arrogant; domineering.
Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
Threatening, menacing, gloomy.
The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.
(obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.
(obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.
Arrogant; haughty.
Gloomily morose; ill-natured, abrupt, and rude; severe; sour; crabbed; rough; sullen; gloomy; as, a surly groom; a surly dog; surly language; a surly look.
Rough; dark; tempestuous.
Now softened into joy the surly storm.
Inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace;
A surly waiter
An ugly frame of mind
Sullen or grumpy in character.
The surly old man yelled at the kids on his lawn.
Surly Meaning in a Sentence
He was known for his surly attitude in stressful situations.
Despite the warm welcome, the guest remained surly.
The surly dog growled at every passerby.
The surly response from the manager upset the customer.
The customer's surly complaint took everyone by surprise.
The surly teenager grumbled as he did his chores.
Her surly expression made it clear she didn't want to be there.
The surly weather matched his mood perfectly.
Surly and uncooperative, the suspect refused to answer questions.
Morning traffic always put her in a surly mood.
Her surly disposition made her difficult to work with.
The surly wind made the evening feel colder.
The old man's surly exterior hid a gentle soul.
He apologized for being surly, blaming it on a lack of sleep.
He received a surly look for arriving late.
The surly crowd was impatient for the concert to start.
His surly nature was off-putting to potential friends.
The receptionist's surly manner was not appreciated.
A surly attitude can ruin an otherwise pleasant event.
The surly sea battered the coast with relentless waves.
The normally cheerful girl was surly after her team lost the game.
She tried to cheer up her surly brother with no success.
Surly employees can negatively impact customer service.
Surly comments can really dampen the team's spirit.
After the argument, they exchanged surly glances.
Surly Idioms & Phrases
Give a surly response
To reply in an unfriendly manner.
She gave a surly response to a simple question.
Sport a surly expression
To have an unfriendly look on one's face.
He sported a surly expression all through the meeting.
Turn surly
To become bad-tempered.
The discussion turned surly when disagreements arose.
In a surly mood
Feeling irritable or grumpy.
Watch out; he's in a surly mood today.
Common Curiosities
Which preposition is used with Surly?
Prepositions like "with" or "in" can be used, e.g., "surly in manner."
Why is it called Surly?
It is derived from the Middle English word "sirlie," meaning "lordly or imperious."
What is the plural form of Surly?
There isn’t a typical plural form since "surly" is an adjective.
Which article is used with Surly?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, e.g., "a surly demeanor," "the surly child."
What is the verb form of Surly?
There isn't a direct verb form for "surly."
What is the root word of Surly?
The Middle English word "sirlie."
Is Surly a negative or positive word?
It's a negative word.
What is the pronunciation of Surly?
It's pronounced as /ˈsɜrli/.
Which vowel is used before Surly?
The vowel "u" is used at the beginning of "Surly."
What is the singular form of Surly?
"Surly" itself is singular.
Which conjunction is used with Surly?
Common conjunctions such as "and" or "but" can be used, depending on the context.
Is Surly an abstract noun?
No, "surly" is an adjective.
Is Surly a vowel or consonant?
"Surly" is a word composed of both vowels and consonants.
Is Surly a noun or adjective?
"Surly" is an adjective.
Is Surly a countable noun?
"Surly" is not a noun; it's an adjective.
Is Surly a collective noun?
No, it's not a collective noun.
What is a stressed syllable in Surly?
The stress is on the first syllable: "sur."
What is another term for Surly?
"Grumpy."
Is the word “Surly” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
As an adjective, "surly" doesn’t function as a direct or indirect object.
How do we divide Surly into syllables?
Sur-ly.
What part of speech is Surly?
It is an adjective.
What is the opposite of Surly?
"Cheerful" or "friendly."
What is the second form of Surly?
Not applicable.
What is the third form of Surly?
Not applicable.
Which determiner is used with Surly?
Determiners like "this," "that," or "such" can be used.
What is the first form of Surly?
Not applicable, as "surly" is an adjective.
Is Surly an adverb?
No, it's not an adverb.
Is the Surly term a metaphor?
No, but it can be used in metaphorical expressions.
Is the word Surly imperative?
No, it's not imperative.
Is the word Surly a gerund?
No, it's not a gerund.
How many syllables are in Surly?
Two syllables.
How is Surly used in a sentence?
Despite the sunny weather, he remained surly throughout the picnic.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
