What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
snarling
Example
The dog was snarling at the stranger who entered the yard. [snarling: verb]
Example
He was snarling at his opponent during the argument. [snarling: present participle]
snapping
Example
The twig snapped under the weight of the hiker's foot. [snapped: past tense]
Example
She was snapping at her coworkers all day, clearly in a bad mood. [snapping: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Snapping is more commonly used than snarling in everyday language. Snapping is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while snarling is less common and refers to a specific type of aggressive behavior.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between snarling and snapping?
Both snarling and snapping are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.