What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Snarl vs Wail - What's the difference?

snarl | wail |

As nouns the difference between snarl and wail

is that snarl is a knot or complication of hair, thread, or the like, difficult to disentangle; entanglement; hence, intricate complication; embarrassing difficulty while wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.

As verbs the difference between snarl and wail

is that snarl is to form raised work upon the outer surface of (thin metal ware) by the repercussion of a snarling iron upon the inner surface while wail is to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish or wail can be (obsolete) to choose; to select.

snarl

English

(wikipedia snarl)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A knot or complication of hair, thread, or the like, difficult to disentangle; entanglement; hence, intricate complication; embarrassing difficulty.
  • The act of snarling; a growl; a surly or peevish expression; an angry contention.
  • A growl, as of an angry or surly dog, or similar; grumbling sounds
  • Synonyms

    * (entangled situation) imbroglio

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To form raised work upon the outer surface of (thin metal ware) by the repercussion of a snarling iron upon the inner surface.
  • To entangle; to complicate; to involve in knots.
  • to snarl a skein of thread
  • * Spenser
  • And from her back her garments she did tear, / And from her head oft rent her snarled hair
  • To embarrass; to ensnare.
  • * Latimer
  • [the] question that they would have snarled him with
  • To growl, as an angry or surly dog; to gnarl; to utter grumbling sounds.
  • To speak crossly; to talk in rude, surly terms.
  • * Dryden
  • It is malicious and unmanly to snarl at the little lapses of a pen, from which Virgil himself stands not exempted.

    Antonyms

    * unsnarl

    Anagrams

    * ----

    wail

    English

    Etymology 1

    Probably from (etyl) Etymology in Webster's Dictionary

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.
  • She let out a loud, doleful wail .
  • Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.
  • The wail of snow-dark winter winds.
    A bird's wail in the night.
  • A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
  • To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
  • To make a noise like mourning or crying.
  • The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.
  • To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.
  • to wail one's death
    (Shakespeare)
  • (slang, music) To perform with great liveliness and force.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Derived terms
    * wailer * wailingly
    References

    Etymology 2

    Compare Icelandic word for "choice".

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To choose; to select.
  • * Henryson
  • Wailed wine and meats
    (Webster 1913) English terms with homophones