Gnarly
Resurrected🪃Boomerang#boomerang#1980s#surfer
Definition
Originally 80s surfer slang meaning extreme, intense, or awesome. Can describe something impressively good or impressively bad. Making a comeback among younger generations.
Translation for Parents
It meant 'extreme' in the 80s-90s — could be good or bad depending on context. 'That wave was gnarly' = awesome. 'That wound was gnarly' = gross. The dual meaning has made it resilient enough to survive decades and re-emerge.
Examples
Brainrot:
“That wipeout was gnarly dude”
English:
“That fall was impressively intense”
Brainrot:
“She did a gnarly kickflip”
English:
“She pulled off an impressive skateboard trick”
Cringe Score
3.5/10 cringe
Mildly embarrassing
If you surf, skate, or snowboard, you've been saying this your whole life. Welcome back from exile, king.
Category
compliment
Peak
1988-01
Last Verified
2026-02-25
Sources
editorial, tiktok