snivel

[sniv-uh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR snivel ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), sniv·eled, sniv·el·ing or (especially British) sniv·elled, sniv·el·ling.

to weep or cry with sniffling.

to affect a tearful state; whine.

to run at the nose; have a runny nose: She sniveled from the cold.

to draw up mucus audibly through the nose: Stop sniveling and use your handkerchief.

verb (used with object), sniv·eled, sniv·el·ing or (especially British) sniv·elled, sniv·el·ling.

to utter with sniveling or sniffling.

noun

weak, whining, or pretended weeping.

a light sniffle, as in weeping.

a hypocritical show of feeling: a sentimental snivel.

mucus running from the nose.

snivels, a sniveling condition; a slight cold; sniffles (usually preceded by the).

Nearby words

Origin of snivel

1275–1325; Middle English snyvele; compare Old English snyflung (gerund), derivative of snofl mucus; cognate with Low German snüfeln

Related formssniv·el·er; especially British, sniv·el·ler, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for snivel

But he could talk about it jokingly now, although Sister was inclined to snivel a little over his danger.
Hiram The Young Farmer|Burbank L. Todd
At this Mr. Kelly began to snivel and moan, while two tears rolled down his hairy nose.
Two in a Zoo|Curtis Dunham
And when you speak of sniveling Puritans, speak of them that do snivel.
Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young People|Constance D'Arcy Mackay
Mr. Snivel is seen, on the night after the secret interview at the Charleston Hotel, in a happy mood, passing down King street.
An Outcast|F. Colburn Adams

Mr. Snivel winks the vote-cribber into a corner, and commences interrogating him concerning Mag Munday.
An Outcast|F. Colburn Adams

British Dictionary definitions for snivel

snivel

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

(intr) to sniffle as a sign of distress, esp contemptibly

to utter (something) tearfully; whine

(intr) to have a runny nose

noun

an instance of snivelling

Derived Formssniveller, nounsnivelling, adjective, nounsnivelly, adjective

Word Origin for snivel

C14 snivelen; related to Old English snyflung mucus, Dutch snuffelen to smell out, Old Norse snoppa snout

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for snivel

snivel

Old English *snyflan "to run at the nose" (cf. snyflung "running of the nose"), related to snofl "nasal mucus;" see snout. Meaning "to be in an (affected) tearful state" is from 1680s. Related: Snivelled; snivelling. As a noun from 14c. Melville coined snivelization (1849). Middle English had contemptuous term snivelard (n.).

snivel

verb (used without object), sniv·eled, sniv·el·ing or (especially British) sniv·elled, sniv·el·ling.

verb (used with object), sniv·eled, sniv·el·ing or (especially British) sniv·elled, sniv·el·ling.

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of snivel

Examples from the Web for snivel

snivel

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

noun

Word Origin for snivel

snivel