snarls 1 of 3

plural of snarl
as in jams
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

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snarls

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of snarl

snarls

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of snarl

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 snarls
Noun
The wildly popular Instagram page was offline for a hot minute, leaving the general pop pining for videos on the myriad zany happenings in our city, from traffic snarls and celebrity shenanigans to animal encounters and fights outside the club. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 The state Department of Transportation is scheduled to install temporary three-way stop signs at the intersections during a road project that’s already created mind-numbing traffic snarls and angry and confused drivers. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026 Drivers should brace for traffic snarls this summer when South Elgin’s State Street bridge over the Fox River is reduced to one lane for road resurfacing work. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026 Attendees on Sunday reported traffic snarls in all directions. Cindi Andrews, IndyStar, 25 May 2026 Travel industry leaders and major airlines warn the proposal would devastate tourism, choke international cargo and create massive operational snarls. Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026 And when jet lag snarls your normal rest pattern, the window views and a cup of traditional Chinese tea awaiting each guest’s arrival become a pleasant distraction. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026 Locals going to the matches are advised to use public transportation if possible, not only to avoid paying for parking but also to avoid traffic snarls around the stadium. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026 As Ross, Martin’s friend and confidante, Kevin Singer has the insinuating righteousness of a slinky cat, his line readings all mews and snarls. Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Day to day, as the city grows, there’s also the question of traffic, which snarls the city as public transit initiatives have repeatedly struggled. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026 Security snarls The TSA PreCheck line at terminal B in LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, on March 27, 2026. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026 Beyond the red tape that snarls any new apartment, condominiums confront an additional hurdle. M. Nolan Gray, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snarls
Noun
  • Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle company is based in California, and sells products associated with a high-end Californian lifestyle – rosé wine, flower sprinkles and jams, as Boshoff reported.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The seller of Folgers coffee and Smucker’s jams also raised its forecast for profit over the full year.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Despite his breed, Genji has yet to discover the famous Shiba scream and, in fact, barely barks.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Cumming barks in a jump-scare moment that takes the group by surprise.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • No matter how many knots a lawyer ties themselves in to get there, legality is not legitimacy.
    Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025
  • Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That video shows three boys scrubbing the floor and walls of a room in the school with rags as Morrison shouts commands and admonishments.
    Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 24 July 2026
  • In the background, an adult voice shouts at the bear, helping to scare the animal off.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • So here's the part where DC's comic book logic tangles itself into knots.
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But consent decrees are legally and politically complicated, and the treatment of migrant children further tangles the situation.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Man yells in shocking exchange during Tupac trial Shakur's lung ultimately collapsed and began bleeding and was later removed by doctors during emergency surgery.
    Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Boos against opponents and bad referees and yells at your side to do better was the Spirit moving you to testify.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Otherwise, there’s definitely a family-friendly element to the hotel (the whole storybook feel screams childhood), though the food options may be a little bit advanced for a kids’ palate.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
  • When Cantu reaches towards Lopez and screams his wife’s name, a shot rings out and Lopez falls slightly off camera.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Snarls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snarls. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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