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
  • His handgun jams, prompting him to return to his vehicle and retrieve a rifle, according to the video.
    Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Art aficionados should consider The Georgian, which boasts its own gallery and hosts late-night jazz concerts and piano jams in its sultry subterranean restaurant, The Georgian Room.
    Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The dog searches, finds the person, barks, and receives the toy as his reward.
    Tibisay Zea, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026
  • Early sips are big on citrus (specifically pomelo and lemon) and herbal tea, alongside lighter elements of cedar and birch barks.
    David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 8 July 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
  • 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
  • Wire pin or slicker brushes work best for dogs with long hair that tangles easily.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • Witness accounts describe chaotic scene In the video, as many as five officers can be seen, and shrieks, screams, and cries are heard.
    Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Graham and some of this congregation brought ice cream to their staffs — teenagers mostly, some of whom likely worked the weekend shift and heard the shots and screams next door.
    Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Snarls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snarls. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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