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
Be prepared for traffic snarls and multiple security checkpoints. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 June 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 The lengthy delays to get through security checkpoints come as more travelers are going on trips for spring break and running into snarls because of the partial government shutdown. Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
  • Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
  • Achieving it in reality would be brutally hard because the target moves, hides, jams, uses decoys, and fights back.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Mac barks at Andi as the two of them drive home.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 May 2026
  • Much like a dog that barks at every little noise and passerby, my skin is reactive.
    Devon Abelman, Allure, 24 Apr. 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
  • Zach Bryan shouts out the crowd on the London leg of his With Heaven on Tour on June 17.
    People Staff, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
  • Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip.
    Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Wire pin or slicker brushes work best for dogs with long hair that tangles easily.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder yells a lot of things from the dugout during a game, usually aimed at his own players.
    Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
  • Sirianni yells to the man, who continues toward the building without a reaction.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Nothing screams summer like nautical stripes.
    Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 26 June 2026
  • Like why does Bravo think making the captions all different sizes screams Gen Z?
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Snarls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snarls. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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