snarl

UK: /ˈsnɑː^rl/ US: /snɑrl/ ,(snärl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

snarl¹ /snɑrl/   v. 

1. to growl angrily or viciously, esp. with the teeth bared, as a dog:
   [no object* (~ + at + object)] The dog snarled at the child.
2. to speak in a sharp, angry manner: [no object; (at + object)]
   He was snarling (at his workers) all day.
   [~ + object]
   to snarl a threat.
   [used with quotations]
   "Get back, all of you!'' he snarled.

n. [countable]

3. the act of snarling:
   The dog gave a snarl.
4. a snarling word:
   nothing but snarls all day from the boss.

snarl•ing•ly, adv. 

snarl² /snɑrl/   n. [countable]

1. a tangle, as of thread or hair.
2. a complicated or confused condition or manner:
   a traffic snarl.
3. a knot in wood.

v. 

4. to (cause to) become tangled, as thread or hair: [no object]
   Her hair snarled as she brushed it.
   [~ + object]
   That shampoo snarls her hair.
5. to (cause to) become confused: [~ + object]
   Traffic was badly snarled at the bridge.
   [no object]
   Traffic snarled at the entrance ramp.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

snarl¹  (snärl), v.i. 

1. to growl threateningly or viciously, esp. 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.

v.t. 

3. to say by snarling:
   to snarl a threat.

n. 

4. the act of snarling.
5. a snarling sound or utterance.

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

snarl′er, n. 
snarl′ing•ly, adv. 

snarl²  (snärl), n. 

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.

v.t. 

4. to bring into a tangled condition, as thread or hair.
5. to render complicated or confused:
   The questions snarled him up.
6. Metallurgy to raise or emboss, as parts of a thin metal vessel, by hammering on a tool (snarl′ing i′ron) held against the inner surface of the vessel.

v.i. 

7. to become tangled;
   get into a tangle.

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

snarl / snɑːl/ verb

1. (intransitive) (of an animal) to growl viciously, baring the teeth
2. to speak or express (something) viciously or angrily

noun

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

Etymology: 16th Century: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German snarren, Middle Dutch snarren to drone

ˈsnarling adjective

ˈsnarly adjective

snarl / snɑːl/ noun

a tangled mass of thread, hair, etc

a complicated or confused state or situation

a knot in wood

verb

1. (often followed by up) to be, become, or make tangled or complicated
2. (transitive) often followed by up: to confuse mentally
3. (transitive) to flute or emboss (metal) by hammering on a tool held against the under surface

Etymology: 14th Century: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Swedish snarel noose, Old Norse snara snare¹

ˈsnarly adjective