gnarled

adjective

ˈnär(-ə)ld

: full of knots or gnarls : knotty

gnarled hands

gnarled olive trees

: 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.

It’s served on a wide, white, squishy bun, with the meat and gnarled onions hanging out. — George Motz, Southern Living, 6 May 2026 On our trek back down, mist hovered over rolling hills of dark grasses and trees, some of which were leaf-less, gnarled, and dead due to the toxic fumes of Ijen. — Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026 Like forests on land, kelp forms dense canopies at the sea surface that shade a mid-water understory while below, their gnarled root-like holdfasts sculpt the seafloor. — Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026 Continue in the southerly direction, appreciating the gnarled coast live oaks and sound of shy red-eared sliders plopping off their logs into the water. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 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

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

gnarl

gnarled

gnarly

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Gnarled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnarled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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gnarled

adjective

Examples of gnarled in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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