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

I quickly snuck back into my hideaway and stayed quiet, listening to the gnarled sounds of this massive animal grazing just feet away from me.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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Related Words

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