gnarly
10 synonyms and 1 antonym for gnarly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Twisted, knotted, or rough in texture, especially of wood.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use gnarly
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
gnarly wave
gnarly trick
gnarly branches
The slang senses ("awesome" or "brutal") are informal, most associated with surf and skate culture.
Etymology
From "gnarl" (a knot in wood) plus "-y." The slang meanings of "excellent" or "extreme" were popularized by American surf culture in the 1970s.
Full origin of gnarly →Frequently asked questions
What does “gnarly” mean?
The word “gnarly” means twisted, knotted, or rough in texture, especially of wood. In plain terms, twisted and rough, or (in slang) either extremely impressive or extremely difficult.
How do you pronounce “gnarly”?
“Gnarly” is pronounced NAH-lee (/ˈnɑɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “gnarly” in a sentence?
Here is “gnarly” used in a sentence: “The old oak had gnarly, twisted branches.”
What is another word for “gnarly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gnarly” include cool, rad, wicked, dreadful, nasty and awful.
What part of speech is “gnarly”?
“Gnarly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “gnarly” come from?
The word “gnarly” dates back to around 1970. From "gnarl" (a knot in wood) plus "-y." The slang meanings of "excellent" or "extreme" were popularized by American surf culture in the 1970s.
How many meanings does “gnarly” have?
“Gnarly” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: twisted, knotted, or rough in texture, especially of wood.
