adj
gnarly
NAH-lee
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
Word Forms
gnarlier comparative, gnarliest superlative
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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.