ENGLISH
REFERENCE

snarl

n.
US //ˈsnɑɹɫ// UK //snˈɑːl// snarl
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English snarlen, frequentative of snaren (“to trap, tangle”). Equivalent to snare + -le.

Etymology 2

Frequentative of earlier snar (“to growl”), perhaps from Middle Low German snorren (“to drone”), of probably imitative origin. Equivalent to snar + -le. Related to German schnarren (“to rattle”) and schnurren (“to hum, buzz”).

© 2026 English Reference