curly

adjective

ˈkər-lē 

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

Synonyms of curly

• curled
• wavy

Examples of curly in a Sentence

She has curly hair and blue eyes.

The dog's tail is curly.

Recent Examples on the Web

How to style a curly shag The key here is not trying too hard. — Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026

On a trip to UC Irvine for orientation with her son, one flew into her long, curly hair. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Fine, straight hair will require more frequent washing than coarse, curly hair. — Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026

Fine, straight and thick, curly hair types can benefit from rinse-out conditioner and leave-in conditioners. — Carley Millhone, HEALTH, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing curly

• curly brace
• curly bracket
• curly-coated retriever
• curly endive
• curly top

Rhymes for curly

• burley
• burly
• girlie
• girly
• hurly
• pearly
• surly

Kids Definition

curly

adjective

ˈkər-lē 

curlier; curliest

: tending to curl

also : having curls

curly hair

curliness noun