snarl

¹ American  

[snahrl] / snɑrl /

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.

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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 American  

[snahrl] / snɑrl /

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.

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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 snarling iron held against the inner surface of the vessel.

verb (used without object)

1. to become tangled; get into a tangle.

snarl ¹ British  

/ snɑːl /

noun

1. a tangled mass of thread, hair, etc

2. a complicated or confused state or situation

3. a knot in wood

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verb

1. (often foll by up) to be, become, or make tangled or complicated

2. to confuse mentally

3. (tr) to flute or emboss (metal) by hammering on a tool held against the under surface

snarl ² British  

/ snɑːl /

verb

1. (intr) (of an animal) to growl viciously, baring the teeth

2. to speak or express (something) viciously or angrily

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noun

1. a vicious growl, utterance, or facial expression

2. the act of snarling

Other Word Forms

• snarler
  noun
• snarling
  adjective
• snarly
  adjective
• snarlingly
  adverb

Etymology

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”; see origin at snare ¹, -le

Explanation

To snarl or make a snarl is to growl like an angry dog or speak abruptly and aggressively. A snarl can also be something tangled or confused. If you've ever heard a dog growl, then you know what a snarl is: a dog's snarl says, "Back off!" When people snarl, they speak in an angry way that isn't shouting but sounds mean. A human snarl is abrupt, sharp, and unfriendly. Another sense of the word is when something gets mixed up, like if wires get tangled together: that tangle is called a snarl. This meaning comes from the earliest use of snarl, "a snare or a noose."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

snarl

The storm is expected to snarl roads into the Sierra Nevada, and require motorists to put chains on their tires.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2026

At the conference, Wright and Burgum told oil executives that the traffic snarl in the strait would be resolved within weeks, rather than months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

Demonstrators, many organising online outside of formal representative bodies, have also used convoys on motorways to snarl traffic and tractors to gridlock central Dublin on occasions.

From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026

Escher’s “Relativity” and its surreal snarl of staircases.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026

Chess was torn between wanting to smooth her hair down himself and wanting to snarl at Natalie, Don't you dare say anything about Emma’s hair being a mess!

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• bark
• growl
• mutter