as in to bark
to speak sharply or irritably
she snarled at me after I kept badgering her with questions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to knot
to twist together into a usually confused mass
you'll be awfully sorry if you snarl your fishing line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jam
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement
to no avail, the city promotes carpooling to help ease the traffic snarls that always accompany rush hour
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 snarl
Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Temperatures were plummeting as tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power from a blast of snow and ice last weekend that snarled traffic, knocked down trees and caused more than 100 deaths.
—Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Dana Taylor, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The growls and snarls of his hounds had turned to yelps and shrieks.
—John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snarl
Verb
Charlotte-area communities got 6 to 12 inches of snow over the weekend, closing schools, snarling traffic and shutting down public transit.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Temperatures were plummeting as tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power from a blast of snow and ice last weekend that snarled traffic, knocked down trees and caused more than 100 deaths.
—Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
And, two, worldwide supply chain snarls also stemming from the pandemic.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The growls and snarls of his hounds had turned to yelps and shrieks.
—John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snarl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snarl
Noun
-
Drawing from much more than the caustic hardcore the group have made their name on, Man Bites Dog throws jock jams, late-aughts electro-pop, and industrial into a huge Margaritaville-sized blender.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The Best Way To Store Opened Jam While unopened jars of jam can be safely stored in a cool, dry cupboard or pantry, opened jars should always be refrigerated.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Inhaling the steam from and consuming a hot beverage (like water) can help with nasal congestion by breaking up mucus and unclogging the sinuses.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The projects’ goal is to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snarl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snarl. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
