surliness
/'sə:linis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger
- his temper was well known to all his employees