adj.
Pronunciation: ' när-l ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: gnarl · i · er ; gnarl · i · est
Date: 1773
1 : GNARLED
2 slang a : DIFFICULT , HAIRY <skidded around gnarly hairpin turns ― Austin Murphy> b : BAD , NASTY <has some pretty gnarly karma coming ― Drew Barrymore> c : COOL , GOOD