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snarl

snarl

9 4.9
An angry, threatening sound or look that warns others
  • noun
  • /snɑrl/
translation icon : gruñido
  • "Indios," he said with a snarl and a look of disgust on his face.
  • an angry snarl
  • said with a snarl
  • snarl in her voice

We might say the snarl on a dog's mouth even.

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Examples

  • I was rudely awakened one night by fierce growls and snarls intermingled with piercing, almost human, screams.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Always had this snarl on his face.

  • Spats jumped toward the bars, a savage snarl issuing from his lips.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Prieto's lips curled back over his teeth; his grin became the snarl of a wild thing cornered.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The dog let out a low snarl when it saw the stranger approaching its territory.

  • With a fierce snarl and bared teeth, the wolf warned the intruder to stay away.

  • The boxer wore a menacing snarl on his face as he prepared for the match.

Synonyms

growling
vssnarl
138 3.4

A low angry sound animals make to warn people

is used for aggressive human facial expression or sound as well as animals
hissing
vssnarl
44 2.6

A long sharp s sound made by animals, objects, or people to show disapproval

is a low threatening sound or expression showing active hostility
sneer
vssnarl
9 5.5

A look on the face that shows you do not respect someone

is more openly hostile and threatening rather than merely contemptuous

Antonyms

1.0

A facial expression with the mouth corners turned up to show happiness or friendliness

9 2.7

A state without strong feelings or worry in your mind

Compounds

7.2

A traffic jam where cars block each other and cannot move

How Threatening

to roar
31 2.7
snarl
9 4.9
to growl
76 2.2
bark
69 1.0
to whimper
69 3.3

Surface Forms

snarl singular
snarls plural

Etymology

Snarl probably comes from an old imitation of a low, harsh animal noise, like a 'growl'. So a snarl is an angry or threatening sound or look that warns others.