snarl¹

[snahrl]

See more synonyms for snarl on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

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

verb (used with object)

to say by snarling: to snarl a threat.

noun

the act of snarling.
a snarling sound or utterance.

Origin of snarl¹

1580–90; earlier snarle, equivalent to obsolete snar to snarl (cognate with Dutch, Low German snarren, German schnarren) + -le

Related formssnarl·er, nounsnarl·ing·ly, adverb

snarl²

[snahrl]

noun

a tangle, as of thread, hair, or wire.
a complicated or confused condition or matter: a traffic snarl.
a knot in wood.

verb (used with object)

to bring into a tangled condition, as thread or hair.
to render complicated or confused: The questions snarled him up.
to raise or emboss, as parts of a thin metal vessel, by hammering on a tool (snarling iron) held against the inner surface of the vessel.

verb (used without object)

to become tangled; get into a tangle.

Origin of snarl²

1350–1400; Middle English snarle; see snare¹, -le

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for snarl

Contemporary Examples

Alastair Sim had jowls like melting candle wax, a snarl like a cornered cat and eyes cold with contempt.
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas
Clive Irving
December 22, 2014
And conservatives in Nevada are looking for the kind of snarl that the smiling Sandoval may not be able to deliver.
Could This Be the First Pro-Choice Republican on a National Ticket?
David Freedlander
November 20, 2014
The delays would cause chaos and snarl traffic at checkpoints, frustrate orderly schedules, and make tempers short.
Iraqi Insurgents Circulate the Lie That They Killed the Judge in Saddam’s Trial
Michael Newton
June 28, 2014
Happy Huckabee seems to be gone, the smile replaced by a snarl.
Happy Huckabee Gets Mad
David Freedlander
May 6, 2014
Some people know Curtis through his passion as an Elvis impersonator, including a snarl and long sideburns.
The Mississippi Man Caught Mailing Ricin-Letters is an Elvis Impersonator
Justin Green
April 18, 2013

Historical Examples

There was a snarl; Jeff had Joe by the throat, and Joe was reaching for his gun.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
It was like the mingled roar of a lion and the snarl of a tiger.
Frank Roscoe's Secret
Allen Chapman
He continued to gaze, and in his interest he forgot to snarl.
White Fang
Jack London
He did not snarl at her, nor show his teeth, when any leap of hers chanced to put her in advance of him.
White Fang
Jack London
He gave no warning, with no snarl anticipated his own action.
White Fang
Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for snarl

snarl¹

verb

(intr) (of an animal) to growl viciously, baring the teeth
to speak or express (something) viciously or angrily

noun

a vicious growl, utterance, or facial expression
the act of snarling

Derived Formssnarling, adjectivesnarlingly, adverbsnarly, adjective

Word Origin

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

snarl²

noun

a tangled mass of thread, hair, etc
a complicated or confused state or situation
a knot in wood

verb

(often foll by up) to be, become, or make tangled or complicated
(tr often foll by up) to confuse mentally
(tr) to flute or emboss (metal) by hammering on a tool held against the under surface

Derived Formssnarler, nounsnarly, adjective

Word Origin

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

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

Word Origin and History for snarl

v.2

"growl and bare the teeth," 1580s, perhaps from Dutch or Low German snarren "to rattle," probably of imitative origin (cf. German schnarren "to rattle," schnurren "to hum, buzz"). Meaning "speak in a harsh manner" first recorded 1690s. Related: Snarled; snarling.

v.1

"to tangle, to catch in a snare or noose" (trans.), late 14c., from a noun snarl "a snare, a noose" (late 14c.), probably a diminutive of snare (n.1). Intransitive sense "become twisted or entangled" is from c.1600. Related: Snarled; snarling.

n.2

"a sharp growl accompanied by a display of the teeth," 1610s, from snarl (v.2).

n.1

late 14c., "a snare, noose," from snarl (v.1). Meaning "a tangle, a knot" is first attested c.1600. Meaning "a traffic jam" is from 1933.

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snarl2

Origin of snarl2

Examples from the Web for snarl

Contemporary Examples

Alastair Sim had jowls like melting candle wax, a snarl like a cornered cat and eyes cold with contempt.

And conservatives in Nevada are looking for the kind of snarl that the smiling Sandoval may not be able to deliver.

The delays would cause chaos and snarl traffic at checkpoints, frustrate orderly schedules, and make tempers short.

Happy Huckabee seems to be gone, the smile replaced by a snarl.

Some people know Curtis through his passion as an Elvis impersonator, including a snarl and long sideburns.

Historical Examples

There was a snarl; Jeff had Joe by the throat, and Joe was reaching for his gun.

It was like the mingled roar of a lion and the snarl of a tiger.

He continued to gaze, and in his interest he forgot to snarl.

He did not snarl at her, nor show his teeth, when any leap of hers chanced to put her in advance of him.

He gave no warning, with no snarl anticipated his own action.

snarl1

Word Origin

snarl2

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for snarl

v.2

v.1

n.2

n.1

snarl¹

Origin of snarl¹

snarl²

Origin of snarl²

snarl¹

snarl²