gnarled

[nahrld]

adjective

1. (of trees) full of or covered with gnarls; bent; twisted.

2. having a rugged, weather-beaten appearance.

   a gnarled old sea captain.

3. crabby; cantankerous.

gnarled

/ nɑːld /

adjective

1. having gnarls

2. (esp of hands) rough, twisted, and weather-beaten in appearance

3. perverse or ill-tempered

Other Word Forms

• ungnarled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnarled¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; variant of knurled

Example Sentences

Nearby, a gorgeous photograph of a single gnarled tree amid green rolling hills becomes quietly apocalyptic, as if the voluptuous earth is preparing to shake off morbid memories.

From Los Angeles Times

The father appeared stunned, while the son runs away from the gnarled metal and broken glass.

From Los Angeles Times

After laying the groundwork for their paths, the couple removed a gnarled fig tree stump and covered the grass and weeds with leftover cardboard boxes from their move.

From Los Angeles Times

Also, the designation “forest” seems generous: The gnarled and stripped trees look broken, suggesting an open wasteland instead of a battleground that could provide cover.

From Los Angeles Times

That tells you just how ingrained Trump is in the American psyche and how hard it is to take the microphone from his gnarled little hands.

From Salon

Related Words

• contorted 
• crooked 
• deformed 
• gnarly 
• twisted 
• wrinkled www.thesaurus.com