Gnarly

Gnarly (adjective / US Slang)

(Also heard as: Gnarly wave, That’s gnarly, Pretty gnarly)

Definition:

Gnarly can mean either impressively extreme or really bad and nasty, depending on the speaker. A “gnarly wave” is a great, challenging one, while a “gnarly injury” is a horrible one.

Where Gnarly Comes From:

It comes from the old word “gnarled”, meaning knotted and twisted. Californian surfers and skaters in the 1970s used it for difficult, dangerous conditions, and it then entered mainstream youth slang.

How People Actually Use Gnarly:

Used for anything extreme: surf, tricks, weather, injuries or food. Tone and context show whether it is praise or disgust.

Is Gnarly Rude?

Not rude. It is casual and slightly retro.

Examples in the Wild:

• “That wave was gnarly, dude.”Meaning: That wave was huge and impressive.
• “He’s got a gnarly scar on his arm.”Meaning: He has a nasty-looking scar on his arm.
• “The storm last night was pretty gnarly.”Meaning: The storm last night was really intense.

Similar Slang:

Rad, Stoked, Sick, Dude

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