snarl
7 synonyms and 1 antonym for snarl, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To growl and bare the teeth angrily, as an animal does.
Synonyms
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To growl and bare the teeth angrily, as an animal does.
“The dog snarled at the mail carrier.”
Opposites
How to use snarl
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
snarl traffic
snarl at someone
a traffic snarl
Etymology
From Middle English snarlen, a frequentative form of snaren ("to trap, entangle"), related to snare.
Full origin of snarl →Frequently asked questions
What does “snarl” mean?
The word “snarl” means to growl and bare the teeth angrily, as an animal does. In plain terms, to growl or speak angrily, or to tangle/jam something up.
How do you pronounce “snarl”?
“Snarl” is pronounced SNAHL (/ˈsnɑː(ɹ)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “snarl” in a sentence?
Here is “snarl” used in a sentence: “The dog snarled at the mail carrier.”
What part of speech is “snarl”?
Depending on how it is used, “snarl” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “snarl” come from?
The word “snarl” comes from Middle English. From Middle English snarlen, a frequentative form of snaren ("to trap, entangle"), related to snare.
How many meanings does “snarl” have?
“Snarl” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to growl and bare the teeth angrily, as an animal does.
