surliness

USAGE SUMMARY

'surliness' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that describes the state of being irritable, unfriendly, or ill-tempered. Example sentence: The surliness of her comments left her coworkers feeling uncomfortable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Young people, says Hamm, are capable of 'huge surliness one minute and massive love the next'.

The Guardian - Film

The mother-and-daughter duo tottered back onto the cobbles like a pair of evil twins, with sarcasm and surliness dripping from every one of their pretty little pores.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In the face of such aggressive surliness, could Blair maintain his willingness and equanimity?

The Guardian - Opinion

The web makes it vastly easier to study every aspect of a potential new home, from the quality of its apartment stock to the surliness of its baristas, all without leaving home.

The Economist

But a growing number of thoughtful Arabs, including some in power, know that the region's surliness and stagnation can be addressed only by a steady opening up of its politics and its economies.

The Economist

But he concedes that surliness endures, even among waiters and waitresses who grew up in the privatised, post-Soviet years.

The Economist

The IRA and Sinn Fein, meanwhile, have sounded stubborn to the point of surliness about the possibility of weapons ever actually being decommissioned.But the approach of the elections may finally have pushed a lever.

The Economist

Tony Blair speaks French, and has earned great approbation by doing so in France confirming the view that French surliness towards the British evaporates if the latter make a little effort.

The Economist

He admired the integrity of the old bluesmen and the willfulness of poets, and his distaste for ingratiation provided a useful template for such later figures as Elvis Costello and John Mellencamp, who traded in related forms of surliness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They had their brats in the good old days, after all; it is just that their surliness tended to have an extrovert hue.

Independent

Sean was born in August 1960, and claims his kindergarten teacher christened him "Gary Cooper" for his silence and surliness.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surliness" to describe a general state of being unfriendly or ill-tempered, rather than a specific action or outburst.

Common error

Avoid using "surliness" to describe isolated instances of rude behavior. "Surliness" implies a persistent state of being, whereas rudeness can be a one-off event.

Linguistic Context

Surliness functions primarily as a noun. It describes a quality or state of being, specifically the state of being surly or ill-tempered. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, with examples showing "surliness" as a descriptor of general behavior or atmosphere.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surliness" is a noun that describes the state of being surly, ill-tempered, and unfriendly. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is grammatically sound and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While synonyms like "grumpiness" and "ill humor" exist, "surliness" carries a specific connotation of a persistent, unpleasant demeanor. When using "surliness", ensure it accurately reflects a sustained state rather than isolated incidents of rudeness. With a source quality score of 90 and an expert rating of 4.5, "surliness" is a reliable and effective word for describing a negative disposition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grumpiness

Implies a more mild and perhaps temporary state of displeasure.

ill humor

Highlights the unpleasant mood or disposition.

testiness

Suggests impatience and a tendency to be easily annoyed.

bad temper

Focuses on the underlying emotional state rather than the outward display of it.

irascibility

Suggests a tendency to become easily angered.

sourness

Highlights a disagreeable or unpleasant attitude.

unfriendliness

Emphasizes the lack of warmth or approachability.

churlishness

Indicates rudeness and a lack of politeness.

ungraciousness

Highlights the lack of social grace or courtesy.

crabbedness

Implies a cross and complaining disposition.

FAQs

How can I use "surliness" in a sentence?

You can use "surliness" to describe a person's general demeanor or atmosphere: "The employee's surliness made customers uncomfortable" or "There was an atmosphere of surliness in the room".

What are some synonyms for "surliness"?

Alternatives to "surliness" include "grumpiness", "ill humor", or "irascibility" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "surliness" a formal or informal word?

"Surliness" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It appears in reputable news sources and academic writing, as well as more casual contexts.

What's the difference between "surliness" and "rudeness"?

"Surliness" refers to a general disposition of being unfriendly or ill-tempered, while "rudeness" refers to specific instances of impolite behavior. Surliness is a state of being, whereas rudeness is an action.