Surliness

Surliness is a state or quality of being sullen, bad-tempered, and unfriendly. It manifests as a rude or grumpy disposition, often accompanied by curt speech and a tendency to take offense easily. This behavior typically stems from underlying feelings of discontent, resentment, or simply a bad mood. A surly person might react negatively to minor inconveniences, display a general lack of cooperation, and create a hostile or unpleasant atmosphere for those around them. The core of surliness involves a deliberate withdrawal and negativity in interpersonal interactions.

Surliness meaning with examples

• The customer service representative’s surliness made the entire experience unpleasant. Her curt replies and dismissive attitude left the customer feeling frustrated and unwanted. Even a simple question was met with a glare, highlighting her blatant disinterest in helping. This level of surliness significantly impacted the customer's perception of the company.
• A dark cloud hung over the family dinner due to the teenage son's surliness. He barely spoke, grunted in response to questions, and visibly bristled at any attempts at conversation. His sullen demeanor poisoned the atmosphere, leaving everyone else feeling uncomfortable and on edge. The silent treatment and rolling eyes spoke volumes.
• Despite the beautiful weather, the old man's surliness persisted. He grumbled about everything, from the cost of gas to the noise of the birds. His negativity was a constant presence, casting a shadow over the otherwise cheerful park. People tended to avoid him, anticipating the inevitable harsh words or irritated sighs.
• After a long and stressful day, the manager’s surliness was palpable. He snapped at his employees, criticized their work harshly, and generally created a tense and uncomfortable work environment. His sharp tone and lack of patience fueled anxiety amongst the team, leading to reduced productivity and morale.
• The critic’s review was riddled with surliness, full of sarcastic remarks and belittling comments about the artist's work. Instead of offering constructive feedback, he focused on trivial flaws and projected his own negativity onto the subject matter. His approach created more damage than anything else.