snarl Hear it!

snarl¹ Definition

snarl (snärl)

intransitive verb

  1. to growl fiercely, baring the teeth, as a threatening dog
  2. to speak harshly and sharply, as in anger, impatience, etc.

Etymology: extended from earlier snar, to growl, akin to Swed snarra, MHG, MDu, MLowG snarren, to growl < IE echoic base *(s)ner-, *(s)nur- > sneer, snore, OIce norn, Norn

transitive verb

to utter or give vent to with a snarl to snarl one's contempt

noun

  1. a fierce, harsh growl
  2. a harsh utterance expressing anger, impatience, etc.

snarl¹ Related Forms
snarl′er noun snarl′·ingly adverb
snarl² Definition

snarl (snärl)

transitive verb

  1. to make (thread, hair, etc.) knotted or tangled
  2. to make disordered or confused; complicate to snarl traffic
  3. to ornament (metalwork) with a raised design, as by hammering

Etymology: ME snarlen < snare (see snare) + -len, -le

intransitive verb

to become knotted or tangled

noun

  1. a knotted or tangled mass or tuft; tangle hair full of snarls
  2. a confused, disordered state or situation; complication; confusion

Etymology: ME snarle

snarl Synonyms

snarl

n.

  1. Confusion

    tangle, entanglement, complication; see confusion 2.

  2. A snarling sound

    growl, grumble, gnarl, surly speech, cross words, angry words, sullen growl; see also noise 1.

snarl Synonyms

snarl

v.

growl, gnarl, gnar, grumble, mutter, threaten, bark, yelp, snap, gnash the teeth, fulminate, bully, bluster, quarrel, abuse, champ the bit*, bite one's thumb*; see also cry 3.

snarl Usage Examples

Object

  • vocal: Gallagher writes perfect pop songs, offering a platform for his brother Liam's brash, snarling vocals.
  • dog: His party descended upon him like a pack of snarling dogs.
  • traffic: Damage to roads, bridges and tunnels have snarled traffic in much of the affected region.
  • beast: After the snarling beast that is the Stage 1 Cyclone, the Lightning was all just so so civilized.
  • tooth: I did not notice its eyes but it had large snarling teeth.
  • guitar: Nonstop blitzkrieg assault of snarling guitars and smartass attitude with great keith moon like drumming and These guys better not soften up with success.

Modifies a noun

  • traffic: The storm continued to flood homes and snarl traffic this weekend.

Adjective complement

  • small: My Opinion Make parts we up snarling small to be sold.

Modifying Another Word

  • up: Service to the are managing these up snarling small brother a man.
  • already: Rottingdean is already snarled up at the best of times.
  • then: She looked at the bacon and eggs and then snarled at him " You've forgotten the toast.
  • back: Hutton snarled back that there were 1500 more GPs than in 1997, more were in training but more needed to be done.
  • angrily: Spritzer stirred at my mother's feet, sniffed the air, and then snarled angrily at Spike.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: The main problems were either ambiguous sites or routes out of them meant getting snarled up in crags.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: It would, however, hide the view of snarled up rush hour traffic.

Particle object:

  • gridlock: The objective of Rush Hour is to move the little red car out of the snarled up traffic gridlock that the game begins with.
  • traffic: It would, however, hide the view of snarled up rush hour traffic.

Preposition: of

  • contempt: With a snarl of contempt he turned upon his heel, and I saw his curved back and white side-whiskers disappear among the throng.
  • anger: Then, with a snarl of anger, he left me and entered the cottage from which I had just come.

Noun used with modifier

  • traffic: But the competition to beat the traffic snarl won the day.

Browse dictionary entries near snarl

  1. ‹ snarky
  2. ‹ snark
  3. ‹ snarf
  4. ‹ snare drum
  5. ‹ snare
  6. ‹ snapshot
  7. ‹ snappy
  8. ‹ snappish
  9. ‹ snapping turtle
  10. ‹ snapping beetle
  1. snarly ›
  2. snatch ›
  3. snatch block ›
  4. snatchy ›
  5. snath ›
  6. snazzy ›
  7. SNCC ›
  8. sneak ›
  9. sneak out of ›
  10. sneak preview ›