What does crossly mean?
"Crossly" is an adverb meaning in an annoyed, irritable, or bad-tempered way. It derives from the adjective "cross," an informal British-flavoured term for grumpy or displeased that traces back through the phrase-cross sense of "cross" to the Latin crux, meaning cross or gibbet — so calling someone cross originally likened their mood to the suffering of crucifixion. In modern usage, "crossly" typically describes how someone speaks, replies, glances, or behaves when mildly provoked: "'Not now,' she said crossly." It sits at the gentle end of the anger spectrum — stronger than mere brusqueness but far milder than fury — which makes it a favourite in novels and everyday narrative for signalling domestic friction or impatience without melodrama. It is common in both British and American English, though the underlying adjective "cross" retains a slightly more British flavour than many of its near-synonyms such as "irritably" or "testily."
adverbIn an annoyed or irritable manner; with ill temper or gruffness.
- In an annoyed, irritable, or bad-tempered manner.
""Not now," she said crossly, without looking up from her paperwork."
""I've told you twice already," he said crossly."
"The cat flicked its tail and stalked crossly out of the room."
When you say someone is "cross," you're literally calling them crucified — the word for bad temper comes from the Latin crux.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crossly
"Crossly" is formed by ordinary suffixation from the adjective "cross" (meaning peevish or ill-tempered) plus the adverbial suffix -ly. The adjective itself developed from the noun "cross," which entered Middle English from Old Irish cros via Old Norse kross, ultimately from Latin crux, the stake or gibbet. The shift from the literal religious symbol to a bad mood came through the figurative use of "cross" as a trial or affliction one must bear — a sense still visible in phrases like "a cross to bear." Cognates sharing the same Latin root include crucial, excruciate, and crusade.
How crossly is actually used
Informal to neutral in register; common in fiction, especially dialogue tags and descriptions of everyday domestic irritation. It conveys mild-to-moderate annoyance rather than rage — angrier speech would be described as angrily or furiously. Chiefly used of people (and humorously of pets).
Easily confused with crossly
"Across" is a preposition or adverb meaning from one side to the other, while "crossly" means in an irritated or bad-tempered way.