Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Gnarly

//ˈnɑːli// adj, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Having or characterized by gnarls; gnarled.

    "Out of one window I can see the garden, those mysterious deep-shaded arbors, the riotous old-fashioned flowers, and bushes and gnarly trees."

  2. 2
    Excellent; attractive. dated, slang

    "There ain't nothing gnarlier (apparently) than slapping on some brightly coloured sunblock to ward off the blinding spectre of dangerous, snow-reflected sunlight."

  3. 3
    Dangerous; difficult. US, dated, slang

    "a gnarly problem"

  4. 4
    Unpleasant, awful, ugly. US, slang

    "We're not talking about a lame chick and a gnarly guy. We're talking about a couple of far-out dudes."

  5. 5
    Unpleasant, awful, ugly.; Of music or a sound: harsh. US, slang

    "[She] displays the same love of gnarly fuzztones and shout-it-out-loud choruses that began back in her daze^([sic]) with local all-girl rockers the Runaways."

Adjective
  1. 1
    used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots wordnet

Etymology

From gnarl (“knot in wood”) + -y. The slang senses were particularly popularized by US surf culture in the 1970s.

See also for "gnarly"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: gnarly