Gnarly/ˈnɑːrli/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Context Often used in extreme sports or tech industries to describe challenging scenarios. Navigating that steep trail was so gnarly. Pro Tip 2/3Informal Usage Not usually used in formal settings. Stick to casual conversations. I can't come out tonight, got some gnarly homework. Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation Implies a sense of dread or frustration when facing a problem. The traffic on the way home was absolutely gnarly.