curly

adjective

\ ˈkər-lē

curlier; curliest

Definition of curly

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

Other Words from curly Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about curly

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Synonyms & Antonyms for curly

Synonyms

curled

Antonyms

straight, uncurled

Examples of curly in a Sentence

She has curly hair and blue eyes. The dog's tail is curly.

Recent Examples on the Web

West's curly hair is pulled into sleek pigtails by her mom's hairstylist Chris Appleton. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "North West, Age Five, Stars On Her First Solo Magazine Cover," 22 Feb. 2019 Remember when mousse was the only option for curly hair? — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "How to Figure Out Your Curl Type and Why It Actually Helps," 14 Jan. 2019 Judges and barristers sweat beneath their curly horsehair wigs and black robes. — The Economist, "As temperatures rise, English lawyers’ costumes look odder than ever," 5 July 2018 Tri-color, curly wigs in the free-flowing hair-style of Guillermo Ochoa, the popular Mexican goalkeeper, were especially ubiquitous. — Patrick J. Mcdonnell, latimes.com, "In Mexico the joy continues as national team wins again in the World Cup," 24 June 2018 Then Donald pulled on a curly black wig to pose as his archrival McIlroy, a perennial media darling with the gift of gab. — Harry Hurt, Town & Country, "T&C Profile: Luke Donald," 8 Apr. 2014 Sometimes curly hair becomes straighter, because your strands lose elasticity and dry out. — Elizabeth Denton, Seventeen, "5 Things You Need To Know Before Going Platinum," 17 Dec. 2018 The sullen teenager grinding through a restaurant shift after school was once a pop culture cliche as American as curly fries. — Leslie Patton, The Seattle Times, "Senior citizens are replacing teenagers as fast-food workers," 13 Nov. 2018 Try a vegetarian frankie with a side of desi fries—essentially chaat masala curly fries. — Diana Oates, Condé Nast Traveler, "20 Best Restaurants in Houston," 1 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.