MEANING
To make a harsh growling sound, often while baring the teeth, or to speak in an angry hostile manner.
Use it for
Predatory warning; hostile dialogue; teeth entering the focus of a confrontationCombine voice and displayed aggression without a general anger adjective.
Words that belong together
- snarl through bared teeth
- snarl a threat
- snarling animal
On the page
The animal snarled when she reached for the latch.
He snarled a warning without turning around.
A second mouth opened beneath the first and began to snarl.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- snarl / snarls
- Past tense
- snarled
- Past participle
- snarled
- Present participle
- snarling
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- snarl / snarls
- Present continuous
- am/is/are snarling
- Present perfect
- have/has snarled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been snarling
- Past
- snarled
- Past continuous
- was/were snarling
- Past perfect
- had snarled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been snarling
- Future
- will snarl / snarls
- Future continuous
- will be snarling
- Future perfect
- will have snarled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been snarling
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: horror. Sharper and more overtly aggressive than a low neutral growl. A separate sense means entangle; it is not intended here. Verb [base, third-person present, past, past participle, -ing]: snarl, snarls, snarled, snarled, snarling.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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