snarl

Snarl is a word with multiple related meanings in English, functioning as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it can mean to growl or utter a harsh, aggressive sound, typically with bared teeth, as when a dog snarls at a stranger. It can also mean to cause or become tangled, twisting into knots or entanglements, or to complicate a situation. As a noun, snarl can refer to the snarling sound itself, or to the act of snarling; it can also denote a tangled mass or knot, especially of hair, wire, or thread, and a traffic obstruction or congested condition described as a snarl.

Usage and nuance: The verb usually conveys aggression or threat in animal behavior, while the noun emphasizes disorder or obstruction. Common phrases include snarling, snarl up, and snarled. The phrase "to snarl at someone" means to speak or act with a growl toward them. A snarl of wires or cables describes a physical tangle; a traffic snarl describes stalled or slowed movement on a route.

Examples: The dog snarled at the intruder. A snarl of cords confined the corner of the desk. The highway became a snarl during the morning rush hour.

Etymology: The origins of snarl are uncertain; the sense related to growling is ancient, while the sense of a tangled mass developed later.