Sullen vs. Surly — What's the Difference?

Bad-tempered and sulky

Sullenly ill-humored; gruff.

A sulky or depressed mood.

Threatening, as of weather conditions; ominous

Showing a brooding ill humor or silent resentment; morose or sulky.

(Obsolete) Arrogant; domineering.

Gloomy or somber in tone, color, or portent

Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.

Sluggish; slow

Threatening, menacing, gloomy.

Having a brooding ill temper; sulky.

(obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.

Gloomy; dismal; foreboding.

(obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.

Sluggish; slow.

Arrogant; haughty.

(obsolete) Lonely; solitary; desolate.

Gloomily morose; ill-natured, abrupt, and rude; severe; sour; crabbed; rough; sullen; gloomy; as, a surly groom; a surly dog; surly language; a surly look.

(obsolete) Mischievous; malignant; unpropitious.

Rough; dark; tempestuous.

(obsolete) Obstinate; intractable.

Inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace;

(obsolete) One who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit.

Sullen feelings or manners; sulks; moroseness.

Lonely; solitary; desolate.

Gloomy; dismal; foreboding.

Mischievous; malignant; unpropitious.

Gloomily angry and silent; cross; sour; affected with ill humor; morose.

Obstinate; intractable.

Heavy; dull; sluggish.

One who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit.

Sullen feelings or manners; sulks; moroseness; as, to have the sullens.

To make sullen or sluggish.

Showing a brooding ill humor;

Darkened by clouds;