snivel

[ sniv-uhl ]

/ ˈsnɪv əl /

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See synonyms for: snivel / sniveling / snivelling / sniveler on Thesaurus.com

Definition of snivel

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.

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

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Origin of snivel

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English snyvele; compare Old English snyflung “sniveling,” derivative of snofl “mucus”; cognate with Low German snüfeln

OTHER WORDS FROM snivel

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use snivel in a sentence

And that sniveling boy will give me no more of his infernal lip!
Cursed|George Allan England
He is only a peasant's sniveling cub, a mountaineer's orphan brat!
The Wolf Cub|Patrick Casey
Thats a mans way to do things—not go sniveling round here in white flannels all summer, letting a girl hand it to me that way!
Cursed|George Allan England
The boy was sniveling too, but I took notice it wasn't a scared snivel—it was a mad snivel, if you all know what I mean.
Back Home|Irvin S. Cobb

All, coughing and sniveling, dip their handkerchiefs into it and rub the moist rag over their hats and coats.
The Life of the Fly|J. Henri Fabre

British Dictionary definitions for snivel

snivel

/ (ˈsnɪvəl) /

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 forms of snivel

sniveller, 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

snivel

Definition of snivel

Origin of snivel

OTHER WORDS FROM snivel

Words related to snivel

How to use snivel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for snivel

Derived forms of snivel

Word Origin for snivel