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Synonyms

snarly

1 American  
[snahr-lee] / ˈsnɑr li /

adjective

snarlier, snarliest
  1. apt to snarl; easily irritated.


snarly 2 American  
[snahr-lee] / ˈsnɑr li /

adjective

snarlier, snarliest
  1. full of knotty snarls; tangled.


Etymology

Origin of snarly1

First recorded in 1790–1800; snarl 1 + -y 1

Origin of snarly2

First recorded in 1640–50; snarl 2 + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Her understated androgyny was paired with a shout-singing vocal style that had a snarly, monotone curl laced with abandon and disregard for convention.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 25, 2025

And Lacey is a snarly mess — because of her failed infertility treatments, because she's lost her sister.

From Salon Feb. 26, 2023

It looked like a scene from one of the snarly zombie apocalypse series my husband keeps watching — far from the orderly museum visit Clyde is gaslighting his voters with.

From Washington Post May 17, 2021

She played a tough judge who liked to bring her snarly pet dog to the courtroom.

From Seattle Times Nov. 25, 2020

A chuckle dripped out of Sigurd’s snarly mouth.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

When that rockabilly figure went on his long hiatus, the band morphed into Switchblade, still one of the snarliest, gnarliest bands to come out of D.C.

From Washington Post Nov. 30, 2022

He's the gruffest, snarliest, biggest man I ever knew—meaner than the devil, and the best friend on top of earth.

From The Glory of the Conquered The Story of a Great Love by Glaspell, Susan

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