snarl 1 of 3

verb (1)

Definition of snarlnext
as in to bark
to speak sharply or irritably she snarled at me after I kept badgering her with questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

snarl

2 of 3

verb (2)

ˈsnär(-ə)l How to pronounce snarl (audio)
as in to knot
to twist together into a usually confused mass you'll be awfully sorry if you snarl your fishing line

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

snarl

3 of 3

noun

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
Verb
The Broncos, at 4-11, flew back to Denver as a snowstorm snarled travel across the country. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2026 The prolonged war in Ukraine has also snarled global wheat trade through the Black Sea, compounding economic effects and undermining food security in vulnerable countries. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
Someone like Mason Marchment — who can score and play with snarl — could be a multi-year option, but giving out long-term deals to free agents in their 30s is risky, especially considering the current state of the Rangers. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 29 June 2026 Multiple inbound lanes are blocked as a result, causing a massive traffic snarl and backup. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for snarl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snarl
  1. bark
  2. knot
  3. jam
  4. shout
  5. tangle
  6. congestion
  7. yell
  8. scream
Verb
  • Both adult residents of the home were alerted to the fire when their dog began barking, helping wake them up, the fire department said.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • When the group arrived, Jason couldn’t enter the residence because of the barking dogs.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of bark
Verb
  • The 6-foot, 190-pound former track sprinter from Maize High School and Wichita headed upfield hoping for a highlight-reel play that might knot the score.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Austin’s Brandon Vázquez scored for the second time this season, using an assist from Myrto Uzuni, to knot the score in the 66th minute.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of knot
Noun
  • And for options that can please any giftee on your list, check out gourmet food calendars filled with decadent chocolates, loose-leaf teas, jams and jellies, and more.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Released digitally in March, the song grew out of a guitar jam between the two friends.
    — Russ Penuell, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of jam
Verb
  • Hollywell nods in agreement, and shouts out all the graffiti artists and other creatives who are still nearby.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • While one fan shouts criticism at an official’s call at Mira Costa High, Grandma and Grandpa Reis calmly and confidently root for their grandsons, Christian, a running back, and Weston, a linebacker.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of shout
Verb
  • The costly dispute instead stretched for almost a decade, becoming tangled up with the War of the Austrian Succession.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Turtlenecks also often tangle my hair into unforgiving knots because of their super-high necklines.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • Grid-enhancing technologies can raise transmission capacity, ease congestion, and improve the efficiency of existing assets.
    — Dr. Sarah Kapnick, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Finally, grab 18% off the TP-Link AXE75 Wi-Fi 6E Router, providing congestion-free tri-band speeds and low-latency performance.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of congestion
Verb
  • Moshier remembers when the team stopped at a fast-food restaurant on a road trip and Murphy yelled for everyone to get back to the bus.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Hill yelled at Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson after Wilson was accidentally knocked into him during Minnesota's game against Miami.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of yell
Verb
  • Bizarrely, Jones wasn't happy about it, immediately shoving Cullen's hand off him and starting a screaming match.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In Whalefall, Abrams screams and thrashes with the same vulnerability, and a few more inner demons.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of scream

Browse Nearby Words

snarky
snarl
snarled
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Cite this Entry

“Snarl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snarl. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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