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

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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 superload is expected to snarl traffic for the next four months as 50 loads will make the trip. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 The hourslong closure snarled the morning commute into Sacramento, shutting down westbound Highway 50 between Hazel Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 8 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
  • Rubber-bullet shooters and a barking K-9 unit trailed behind.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The golden doodles would always bark when someone approached the house, said Ashley’s father, Todd Smith.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of bark
Verb
  • The match entered the break knotted at 1-1 before the two sides traded goals just six minutes into the second half.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Mestemaker overcame an interception on Oklahoma State's first drive of the third quarter by throwing passes of 27 and 40 yards on the Cowboys' next drive to set up his 4-yard scoring toss to Terrence Lewis to knot the score at 21.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of knot
Noun
  • Ben Jones as Cooter Davenport Ben Jones played Cooter Davenport, the lovable mechanic who was always ready to help the Duke boys out of a jam, with a garage that served as both a workplace and hideout when needed.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The only problem is that the lyrics aren’t really more comprehensible than actual Katseye jams.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of jam
Verb
  • The engines were so loud the commandos would have had to shout to be heard.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Use ‘we’ then ‘I’ Start by shouting out your colleagues, then mention your specific actions.
    — Melody Wilding, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of shout
Verb
  • Getting tangled up in antlers isn't my idea of an enjoyable afternoon.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Pawlikowski’s mother and father, also named Zula and Wiktor, whose unmanageable love had kept them tangled and disentangled for decades, took their own lives in 1989, as the Cold War that had cast its chill upon their time was beginning to thaw.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • Avoiding warehouse congestion may be more important than maximizing inbound utilization.
    — Amruth Puppala, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Respondents supported making roads safer, addressing congestion and maintaining the city’s parks and bike trails.
    — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of congestion
Verb
  • The sets have too many doors, the scenes have a delirious number of extras and the actors yell their lines over the distracting clatter of crackling fireplaces, beeping machines and ticking clocks.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Things escalate as the two share a car ride home from a fancy gala and the bad man yells at her for embarrassing him.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of yell
Verb
  • Set the scene The Homestead screams quirky, artful, and vintage yet restored—capturing a whimsical, fairytale ambiance embellished with hints of Southern charm.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In reviewing the body camera footage, police found that the child was standing on the stairwell at one point and was screaming while holding her left arm up in the air, according to the warrant affidavit.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 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 6 Oct. 2026.

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