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
snarler 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