gnarly

adjective

Definition of gnarlynext
slang
as in ugly

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gnarly And the tendency toward practical effects over CG is satisfying, highlighting makeup designer Jane O’Kane’s gnarly work. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 The three-foot-tall evergreen with a gnarly, twisted trunk is located near the miniature Geppetto’s Workshop in Pinocchio’s Village. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 7 July 2026 His first round 64 came largely after the gnarly winds died down and the course eased up. — Brody Miller, New York Times, 19 June 2026 The results have led to important innovations in car safety design, and no shortage of gnarly slow-motion crash footage. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gnarly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnarly
  1. ugly
  2. hideous
  3. disgusting
  4. hellish
  5. loathsome
  6. horrid
  7. beastly
  8. hateful
Adjective
  • Some of the coverage may be ugly and unfair, but isn’t obscurity worse?
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The City of Atlanta and Fulton County’s Board of Commissioners have been trading negotiations over the sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center, and things have started to get ugly.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Illiteracy, and its centuries-long ongoing epidemic, is hideous.
    — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 21 July 2026
  • The ace endured a rocky start punctuated by a hideous 11-run blowup in Minnesota and has now been sidelined with a shoulder injury since April 26.
    — Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Definition of hideous
Adjective
  • In a series distinguished by copious disgusting battle scenes, Ormund co-stars in one of its very grossest—a gross-on-gross-on-gross flambé—and almost gets in one last barf.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • His central characters can be nasty, disgusting, violent, hysterically cruel, and passionately consumed.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • But as the episode closes out on another flash-forward to Joe’s captivity, we’re reminded that the plan of escape from this hellish timeline only throws her deeper into its clutches.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Fortunately, Des Moines resident Sydney Marshall shared some non-hellish tips before the tournament began.
    — Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of hellish
Adjective
  • People commonly used tobacco to treat many ailments, including indigestion, respiratory problems, pain and loathsome mouth afflictions.
    — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • Platner is loathsome in so many ways.
    — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
Definition of loathsome
Adjective
  • The horrid digital-botox prologue feels like an explosion at the Unnecessary Cameo Factory.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described horrid conditions the children were in, saying there was a high presence of feces and bacterial matter.
    — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of horrid
Adjective
  • The German tuner, known for turning luxe cars from Lamborghini to Bentley into absurd, beastly powerhouses, has teamed up with the folks at Sunreef on a new 55-foot cat.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 July 2026
  • Yet Corsini transforms his shocking premise into a beastly and beautiful character study, one that’s smartly supported by a mostly Italian ensemble and truly revelatory second antagonist.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
Definition of beastly
Adjective
  • The league's anti-hate committee was formed last year to deal with hateful and abusive online comments directed at players and the league.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But arguably the script by Jones and director Brunner might have been a skoosh more impactful if the small-minded townsfolk, clearly coded as bigoted MAGA types, weren’t quite so hateful with only a few exceptions.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hateful

Browse Nearby Words

G-men
gnarly
gnash
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gnarly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnarly. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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