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Showing results for snarly. Search instead for sarlyk.
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.

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

She was a bit snarly at first, he added.

From Washington Post • Jun. 1, 2022

He could be so snarly, though, that Senator William B. Saxbe, Republican of Ohio, memorably derided him as Nixon’s “hatchet man” and said he was so disagreeable, “he couldn’t sell beer on a troop ship.”

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2021

Because quick as you please, he returns, all grody and snarly.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 4, 2019

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

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.