curlier

Curlier is the standard comparative form of the adjective curly. It is used to describe a greater degree of curl in a noun phrase, most often referring to hair but also applicable to other curled features such as fabric fibers, plant tendrils, or decorative cords when emphasis is desired.

Formation and etymology: The word is formed by adding the comparative suffix -er to the adjective curly. Curly itself derives from the noun curl, with the -y suffix converting it into an adjective; the -er suffix then yields curlier. The corresponding superlative form is curliest, and the related noun is curliness. In modern usage, curlier simply signals that something has more curl than something else.

Usage: Curlier is widely used in both casual and formal styles of English to compare degrees of curl. For example, “Her hair is curlier today than yesterday.” In some contexts, speakers may alternatively say “more curly,” though this is less common and can sound stylistically heavy in everyday prose. Curlier can describe hair texture, fabrics, cords, or natural features that exhibit curling.

Limitations and considerations: Because curliness can vary across contexts, curlier often appears alongside qualifiers such as “more” or “the curlier of the two” to clarify the comparison. It remains a straightforward, widely understood term in standard English.

See also: curly, curl, curliness.