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Austere vs Surly - What's the difference?

austere | surly | Related terms |

Austere is a related term of surly.


As adjectives the difference between austere and surly

is that austere is austere while surly is (obsolete) lordly, arrogant, supercilious.

As an adverb surly is

(obsolete) in an arrogant or supercilious manner.

austere

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Grim or severe in manner or appearance
    • The headmistress was an austere old woman.
  • Lacking trivial decoration; not extravagant or gaudy
    • The interior of the church was as austere as the parishioners were dour.

    Synonyms

    * (grim or severe) stern, strict, forbidding * (lacking trivial decoration) simple, plain, unadorned, unembellished

    Antonyms

    * (not lacking trivial decoration) overwrought, flamboyant, extravagant, gaudy, flashy

    Derived terms

    * austerity * austerely

    surly

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.
  • Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
  • Threatening, menacing, gloomy.
    • The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.

    Adverb

    (er)
  • (obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.
  • * 1623 , , Julius Caesar , I.iii,
    • Against the Capitol I met a lion / Who glazed upon me, and went surly