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View synonyms for

snarl

1

[ snahrl ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to growl threateningly or viciously, especially with a raised upper lip to bare the teeth, as a dog.
  2. to speak in a surly or threatening manner suggestive of a dog's snarl.


verb (used with object)

  1. to say by snarling:

    to snarl a threat.

noun

  1. the act of snarling.
  2. a snarling sound or utterance.

snarl

2

[ snahrl ]

noun

  1. a tangle, as of thread, hair, or wire.
  2. a complicated or confused condition or matter:

    a traffic snarl.

  3. a knot in wood.

verb (used with object)

  1. to bring into a tangled condition, as thread or hair.
  2. to render complicated or confused:

    The questions snarled him up.

  3. to raise or emboss, as parts of a thin metal vessel, by hammering on a tool snarling iron held against the inner surface of the vessel.

verb (used without object)

  1. to become tangled; get into a tangle.

snarl

1

/ ɑː /

verb

  1. intr (of an animal) to growl viciously, baring the teeth
  2. to speak or express (something) viciously or angrily
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a vicious growl, utterance, or facial expression
  2. the act of snarling
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

snarl

2

/ ɑː /

noun

  1. a tangled mass of thread, hair, etc
  2. a complicated or confused state or situation
  3. a knot in wood
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. often foll by up to be, become, or make tangled or complicated
  2. troften foll byup to confuse mentally
  3. tr to flute or emboss (metal) by hammering on a tool held against the under surface
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԲԲ, adjective
  • ˈԲԲly, adverb
  • ˈԲ, adjective
  • ˈԲ, noun
  • ˈԲ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • Բİ noun
  • ԲiԲ· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of snarl1

First recorded in 1580–90; equivalent to obsolete snar “to snarl” (cognate with Dutch, Low German snarren, German schnarren ) + -le

Origin of snarl2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English snarle “snare, trap”; snare 1, -le
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Word History and Origins

Origin of snarl1

C16: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German snarren, Middle Dutch snarren to drone

Origin of snarl2

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Swedish snarel noose, Old Norse snara snare 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Honor shapes Ned's life, one that concludes with him confessing to a crime he didn’t commit before he’s beheaded for the enjoyment of snarling smallfolk he tried to protect.

From

"It's been snarled up all morning and I think the whole North East during rush hour felt it," he said.

From

“Elites” remains a snarl word in America, but it no longer means a wealthy oligarch exploiting the common people.

From

Two people were killed,16 were injured and traffic was snarled along the highway, authorities said.

From

Already, the area in front of the school was snarled with donkey carts loaded with people’s belongings, cooking gas cylinders, jugs of drinking water, mattresses and tarps.

From

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snarkyˈԲ