curly

\ ˈkər-lē

How to pronounce curly (audio)

\

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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Examples of curly in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web As a kid, Bland remembers being picked on for her own naturally curly hair. — Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, "For Louisville's black barbers and salons, COVID-19 shutdown is more than loss of business," 30 Apr. 2020 Some basic tips for cutting straight or moderately curly hair for women and men: Want a simple woman's haircut? — USA Today, "Steps to cutting your own hair during the coronavirus shutdown," 23 Apr. 2020 The thick mat of curly brown hair on its forehead was powdered by a summer dust. — Christopher Preston, The Atlantic, "Conservationists No Longer Agree on What ‘Wild’ Means," 9 Apr. 2020 But for curly, coarse hair use a firm bristle brush, and for finer, straight hair use a softer bristle brush. — Tatjana Freund, Marie Claire, "Exactly How to Give Yourself a Professional Blowout, by a Celeb Stylist," 17 Apr. 2020 But the agita over how to groom yourself for work—hair straight or curly? — Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, "The Office Dress Code Should Never Come Back," 13 Apr. 2020 The brand DevaCurl is the subject of class-action lawsuits alleging that its products, promoted as part of curly hair acceptance, caused women’s hair to become damaged and fall out. — Fortune, "Australia is providing free childcare during the coronavirus crisis," 3 Apr. 2020 And then there’s the more gendered aspects: the reveal of the woman’s true self, symbolized by Vivian’s reddish curly mane, untamed and raw. — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, "30 Years Later, Pretty Woman Is So Much More Than A Guilty Pleasure," 24 Mar. 2020 The classic edge profile carved curly wood shavings with minimal effort. — The Editors, Outdoor Life, "The Survival Gear You Want When Things Go Wrong in the Backcountry," 20 Feb. 2020

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.

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Last Updated

9 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Curly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curly. Accessed 29 May. 2020.

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