# Snarl

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Sound, often a growl or vicious utterance

For other uses, see [Snarl (disambiguation)](/source/Snarl_(disambiguation)).

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Look up ***[snarl](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/snarl)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

A facial expression which often accompanies a snarl

The figure on the far right has a facial expression commonly associated with snarling.

A **snarl** is a sound, often a [growl](/source/Growling) or vicious utterance,[1][2] often accompanied by a [facial expression](/source/Facial_expression), where the upper lip is raised, and the nostrils widen, generally indicating [hate](/source/Hate), [anger](/source/Anger) or [pain](/source/Pain). In addition to [humans](/source/Human), other [mammals](/source/Mammal) including [monkeys](/source/Monkey), [rabbits](/source/Rabbit) and [dogs](/source/Dog) snarl, often to warn others of their potential bite. In humans, snarling uses the [levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle](/source/Levator_labii_superioris_alaeque_nasi_muscle). The threatening vocalizations of snarling are often accompanied by or used synonymously with threatening facial expressions.

The word "snarl" is also used as an [onomatopoeia](/source/Onomatopoeia) for the threatening noise to which it refers, as in the 'snarl' of a [chainsaw](/source/Chainsaw). This usage may derive from the common expression describing a dog as "growling and snarling". One literary use of "snarl" to mean a noise is in *[The Lord of the Rings](/source/The_Lord_of_the_Rings)* in the encounter with the [barrow-wight](/source/Barrow-wight): "*In the dark there was a snarling noise*".

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-OED_1-0)** ["OED definition of 'snarl'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140811031144/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/snarl?q=snarl). OED Online. 2014-07-28. Archived from [the original](http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/snarl?q=snarl) on August 11, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Collins_Dictionary_2-0)** ["Collins Dictionary definition of 'snarl'"](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/snarl). Collins. 2014-07-28.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Snarl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snarl) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snarl?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.