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.

Related Forms:

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

snarl Usage Examples

Object

  • vocal: Gallagher writes perfect pop songs, offering a platform for his brother Liam's brash, snarling vocals.

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.

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: up_obj

  • 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.

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.

Noun used with modifier

  • traffic: But the competition to beat the traffic snarl won the day.
snarl usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"snarl." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/snarl>

APA Style

snarl. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/snarl

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment