1
: full of knots or gnarls : knotty
gnarled hands
gnarled olive trees
2
: crabbed in disposition, aspect, or character
a gnarled old veteran

Examples of gnarled in a Sentence

the old man's gnarled fingers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When the setting sun starts its slow dive toward the Catskill Mountains to the west, the several-hundred strong crowd begins its exuberant procession up a hill to a pair of gnarled Spartan apple trees, two of the oldest in the orchard. Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 26 Nov. 2024 At the center of the action was a fountain, situated beside a gnarled willow tree that was there before Hunnewell Martin even arrived. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 2 Aug. 2024 Just me and some friends eating, like, lo mein and stir-fry at this massive gnarled war table while the Phillies are on. Brian Grubb, Vulture, 21 July 2024 Electric field lines woven through this gnarled landscape could disappear into one hole, burrow through space-time, then reemerge from another. Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gnarled 

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of knurled

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gnarled was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near gnarled

Cite this Entry

“Gnarled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnarled. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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