snarled; snarling; snarls
1
: to cause to become knotted and intertwined : tangle
2
: to make excessively complicated
: to become snarled
1
: a tangle especially of hairs or thread : knot
2
: a tangled situation
traffic snarls
snarled; snarling; snarls
1
: to growl with a snapping, gnashing, or display of teeth
2
: to give vent to anger in surly language
: to utter or express with a snarl or by snarling
Examples of snarl in a Sentence
Verb (1)
you'll be awfully sorry if you snarl your fishing line
Noun (1)
to no avail, the city promotes carpooling to help ease the traffic snarls that always accompany rush hour
Verb (2)
she snarled at me after I kept badgering her with questions
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The Iran war is also snarling shipments of other commodities, like fertilizer, aluminum, and helium.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Travelers using Miami International Airport on Saturday or into the early hours of Sunday should plan for major traffic snarls because of Inter Miami’s debut match at its new stadium.
—Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for snarl
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Verb
Easter weekend forecast Over the holiday weekend, some areas of the United States are in store for less-than-ideal weather that could snarl plans for Easter egg hunts and travel.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The Iran war is also snarling shipments of other commodities, like fertilizer, aluminum, and helium.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
As Ross, Martin’s friend and confidante, Kevin Singer has the insinuating righteousness of a slinky cat, his line readings all mews and snarls.
—Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Travelers using Miami International Airport on Saturday or into the early hours of Sunday should plan for major traffic snarls because of Inter Miami’s debut match at its new stadium.
—Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for snarl
Cite this Entry
“Snarl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snarl. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snarl
1 of 4 noun1
: a tangle especially of hairs or thread : knot
2
: a tangled situation
a traffic snarl
snarl
2 of 4 verb
: to get into a tangle
snarl
3 of 4 verb1
: to growl with a snapping or showing of teeth
2
: to speak in an angry way
3
: to utter with a snarl
snarler
noun
snarl
4 of 4 noun
: an angry growl
Etymology
Noun
Middle English snarle "snare, noose," probably from snarlen "to trap, entangle"
Verb
from obsolete snar "to growl"
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