Definition

1. Noun:
   • A disposition or tendency to exhibit uncontrolled anger; bad-temperedness; irritability: "Surliness" refers to the quality or state of being surly, which means being unfriendly, rude, and likely to get angry.

Usage

• "Surliness" is an uncountable noun describing a person's characteristic mood or temperament.
• It is a formal term often used in written descriptions of character or behavior.
• It describes a habitual state, not a single momentary outburst.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The manager's chronic surliness created a tense atmosphere in the office.
  • Despite his surliness, he was known to have a kind heart underneath.
  • Her surliness was a defense mechanism against strangers.

Advanced Usage

• "with surliness": used to describe an action performed in a surly manner.
  • He answered the customer's question with obvious surliness.

Variants and Related Words

• Surly (adj): Having or showing a bad temper; unfriendly and rude.
  • The surly clerk refused to help.
• Surlily (adv): In a surly manner.
  • He muttered surlily under his breath.

Synonyms

• Irascibility: A tendency to be easily angered.
• Cantankerousness: Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative behavior.
• Churlishness: Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
• Crabbiness: A cross, ill-tempered mood.

Antonyms

• Amiability: The quality of having a friendly and pleasant manner.
• Affability: The quality of being friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to.
• Geniality: The quality of being friendly and cheerful.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A surly disposition: A person's inherent tendency to be bad-tempered.
  • He was passed over for the promotion due to his surly disposition.

Noun

1. a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger
   • his temper was well known to all his employees