snarl-up snar·lup uncommon uk noun (1) verb (1) noun 1. a number of vehicles blocking one another until they can scarcely move Synonymstraffic jam verb 1. make more complicated or confused through entanglements Synonymssnarlsnarl upembrangle Related words Word family snarl Broader terms crushcomplicate Narrower terms gridlocksnafu WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.