gnarly

English

Etymology

gnarl +‎ -y.

In slang senses, particularly popularized by US surf culture in the 1970s.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈnɑːli/, X-SAMPA: /"nA:li/
• (US) enPR: närʹli, IPA: /ˈnɑrli/, X-SAMPA: /"nArli/

Adjective

gnarly (comparative gnarlier, superlative gnarliest)

1. having or characterized by gnarls; gnarled

   On the right of the station were two gnarly cottonwood trees... — Mark Goodwin, Last Words

2. (US slang) dangerous

   When the swell struck, the North Shore got gnarly, and the wise ones hit the outer islands where the energy was just as juicy but a bit more organized. — Surfer Magazine, March 1977

3. (US slang) unpleasant, awful, ugly

   We're not talking about a lame chick and a gnarly guy. We're talking about a couple of far-out dudes. — D. Jenkins, Baja Oklahoma

4. (slang) excellent, attractive

   "There ain't nothing gnarlier (apparently) than slapping on some brightly coloured sunblock to ward off the blinding spectre of dangerous, snow-reflected sunlight. — Glasgow Sunday Herald, 16 January 2000

5. (US slang) Of music or a sound, harsh

   "[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. — Los Angeles Times, 12 October 1986

Usage notes

Note the contradictory senses of “good” and “bad”. Meaning varies by community and context, and may be indicated by extra-verbal cues, such as tone of voice. Sense of “good” particularly associated with surf culture, to the point of being somewhat clichéd, as in “gnarly wave, dude!”.

Synonyms

• (gnarled): gnarled, knobbly, knobby
• (slang: dangerous):
• (slang: unpleasant, awful): awful, dreadful, nasty
• (slang: excellent, attractive): cool
• (harsh (of music or sound)): discordant

Translations

gnarled — see gnarled

slang: dangerous

slang: unpleasant, awful

slang: excellent, attractive

slang: harsh (of music or sound)