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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

She was a bit snarly at first, he added.

From Washington Post Jun. 1, 2022

Lugosi is lurching and clumsy as the monster, while Chaney is appropriately tortured as Larry but stiff and snarly as the Wolf Man, more man than wolf.

From Seattle Times Oct. 26, 2020

She’ll be moody and snarly about Nick and Abby.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

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 Susan Glaspell

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