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Definition of "snarl" [snarl]

  • To growl viciously while baring the teeth. (verb-intransitive)
  • To speak angrily or threateningly. (verb-intransitive)
  • To utter with anger or hostility: snarled a retort. (verb-transitive)
  • A vicious growl. (noun)
  • A vicious, hostile utterance. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "snarl" in a sentence
  • "The intent of the snarl is to warn or frighten, and judgment is required to know when it should be used."
  • "He bellied cautiously inside and was met by a warning snarl from the she-wolf."
  • "The air-traffic snarl from the Icelandic volcano has transformed Spain's capital and its airport into Europe's unofficial hub, as travelers grow desperate to reach their destinations."