adj
gnarly
NAH-lee
Gnarly (adj) means Twisted, knotted, or rough in texture, especially of wood. Example: “The old oak had gnarly, twisted branches.”
adj
1
Twisted, knotted, or rough in texture, especially of wood.
"The old oak had gnarly, twisted branches."
2
(slang) Excellent or impressive.
"That was a gnarly trick on the skateboard."
3
(slang) Difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant.
"The road up the mountain got pretty gnarly after the rain."
How to use gnarly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTwisted and rough, or (in slang) either extremely impressive or extremely difficult.
When to use it
The slang senses ("awesome" or "brutal") are informal, most associated with surf and skate culture.
Common pairings
gnarly wave
gnarly trick
gnarly branches
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Word forms
- Comparative
- gnarlier
- Superlative
- gnarliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old oak had _____, twisted branches.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for gnarly
See all rhymes for 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.
