Surlily

Surlily describes a manner that is bad-tempered, rude, and unfriendly. It implies a sullen, resentful disposition, often expressed through curt speech, a harsh tone, and a generally unwelcoming demeanor. This behavior can stem from various underlying causes such as anger, dissatisfaction, disappointment, or a general dislike of people or the situation. A person acting surlily may express their negativity through short responses, dismissive body language, and a lack of cooperation, making interactions unpleasant and strained. The word paints a picture of someone deliberately making themselves unapproachable or deliberately causing a social interaction to be short or abrupt.

Surlily meaning with examples

• The customer service representative, burdened by a long line and system issues, answered the phone surlily, her voice tight with impatience. Her responses were curt and devoid of any warmth, leaving the caller feeling unwelcome and frustrated. It was evident she found the job tedious and was letting it affect her demeanor.
• After losing the competition, the athlete responded surlily to the congratulatory handshake, avoiding eye contact and muttering a barely audible "whatever." His disappointment was raw, transforming into a wall that was created by him being difficult. His teammates knew better than to press him, knowing that he had to let the disappointment work through.
• The teenager, displeased with the curfew imposed by his parents, replied surlily to their reminder, slamming his bedroom door. He wanted to stay out longer, and his frustration made him defiant. His tone was full of resentment, showing that he felt controlled, but he also knew that this was for his own good.
• When questioned about his tardiness, the employee explained surlily, citing traffic as the cause, but neglecting to apologize for the disruption. He offered a cold, indifferent response which was difficult to accept for everyone involved. His lack of remorse and defensive posture suggested a lack of accountability.
• The grumpy old man greeted the children's friendly wave surlily, barely grunting in response and continuing to grumble about kids on his lawn. This response was cold, and his behavior clearly illustrated his aversion to interaction. This man gave no opening for a fun exchange. His surliness discouraged any further attempt at conversation.