sniffle

American  

[snif-uhl] / ˈsnɪf əl /

verb (used without object)

sniffled, sniffling

1. to sniff repeatedly, as from a head cold or in repressing tears.

   She sniffled woefully.

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noun

1. an act or sound of sniffling.

2. (the) sniffles, a condition, as a cold, marked by sniffling.

   This draft is giving me the sniffles.

sniffle British  

/ ˈsnɪfəl /

verb

1. (intr) to breathe audibly through the nose, as when the nasal passages are congested

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noun

1. the act, sound, or an instance of sniffling

Other Word Forms

• sniffler noun
• sniffly adjective

Etymology

Origin of sniffle

First recorded in 1625–35; sniff + -le

Example Sentences

“I hate Ohio! I’m going to be miserable there! I—I—” She sniffled.

From Literature

Still, I don’t want to act like a baby, so I nod through my sniffles.

From Literature

I shifted to my side to get back to sleep, and immediately he grew quieter, stifling his sniffles.

From Literature

If you want a place to start, here’s the hippie bowl I keep making lately — the one that’s been getting me through gray days and lingering sniffles.

From Salon

It means that this year’s flu shot, Rajnarayanan said, “is not perfect enough to prevent every sniffle.”

From Salon

Related Words

• choke
• snort
• whoop