surly
/ˈsɜːrli/
sur · ly
ˈsɜːr · li
English Definition
adj. rude; bad-tempered; gruff
Significado en Español
malhumorado, hosco
Nghĩa Tiếng Việt
cáu kỉnh, khó chịu
Show meaning in
Example Sentence
The waiter was rather surly.
服务员相当粗暴。
💡
Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
surly (rude, impolite) → bad-tempered, rough.
Know this word? Mark it mastered, or move on.
Practice — Synonym (ISEE Verbal)
Which of the following words is a synonym for “surly”?
-
A
cheerful
-
B
gracious
-
C
grumpy
-
D
friendly
Show answer
C — grumpy.
“surly” means adj. rude; bad-tempered; gruff
Practice — Sentence Completion (ISEE Verbal)
The ______ clerk grunted rudely and refused to answer any of our questions.
-
A
cheerful
-
B
friendly
-
C
polite
-
D
surly
Show answer
D — surly.
“surly” means adj. rude; bad-tempered; gruff
Common questions about “surly”
What does “surly” mean?
surly — adj. rude; bad-tempered; gruff. In Chinese: 粗暴的；脾气坏的.
How do you pronounce “surly”?
surly is pronounced /ˈsɜːrli/. It breaks into 2 syllables: sur · ly.
How do you use “surly” in a sentence?
The waiter was rather surly. (服务员相当粗暴。)
What are synonyms for “surly”?
grumpy, sullen — all close in meaning to surly (adj. rude; bad-tempered; gruff).
Is “surly” an ISEE Upper-level word?
Yes. surly appears on the iSEE Vocab Upper list, which covers 804 words for the ISEE and SSAT.
How can I remember “surly”?
surly (rude, impolite) → bad-tempered, rough.
