curlier; curliest
1
: tending to curl
also : having curls
curly hair
2
: having the grain composed of fibers that undulate without crossing and that often form alternating light and dark lines
curly maple
curliness noun

Examples of curly in a Sentence

She has curly hair and blue eyes. The dog's tail is curly.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Finding the best hair oils for curly hair can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack—every bottle promises shine, frizz control, or hydration, but not every formula delivers. Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025 Manfred may have goofy-looking curly blonde hair, but Mikkelsen portrays him as strong-willed and devoted to his brother, with a dignified stiffness that is both poignant and unsentimental. Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025 The only actor who looks at home here is Chloë Sevigny as Kim, the resident Yale Philosophy Department psychotherapist, who struts through the movie in a series of baggy suits and a curly bowl haircut that wouldn’t be out of place on the Beverly Hillbillies’ Miss Jane Hathaway. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025 Pictures from the dig show the head with curly hair and a slight smile, unfazed by its missing nose. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for curly

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of curly was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Curly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curly. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

curly

adjective
curlier; curliest
: tending to curl
also : having curls
curly hair
curliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on curly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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