Gentle and Surly

Opposite meaning words

Gentle adjective - Not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect.

Show all Definitions

Surly is an antonym for gentle in having a mild or kind nature topic.

Surly adjective - Having or showing a habitually bad temper.

Usage example: the surly receptionist told us we'd have to wait outside in the rain

Show all Definitions

Gentle is an antonym for surly in gruff topic.

Nearby Words: surliness, surlily

Cite this Source

Surly and Gentle. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/gentle/surly

Gentle & Surly. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/gentle/surly>.

Surly or Gentle. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/gentle/surly.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "gentle" and "surly" have occurred on timeline