snuffle

American  

[snuhf-uhl] / ˈsnʌf əl /

verb (used without object)

snuffled, snuffling

1. to draw air into the nose for the purpose of smelling something; snuff.

2. to draw the breath or mucus through the nostrils in an audible or noisy manner; sniffle.

3. to speak through the nose or with a nasal twang.

4. to whine; snivel.

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verb (used with object)

snuffled, snuffling

1. to utter in a nasal tone.

noun

1. an act or sound of breathing loudly through the nose.

2. (the) snuffles, a condition of the nose, such as from a cold, causing a person to breath or draw mucus through the nostrils noisily.

3. a nasal tone of voice.

snuffle British  

/ ˈsnʌfəl /

verb

1. (intr) to breathe noisily or with difficulty

2. to say or speak in a nasal tone

3. (intr) to snivel

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noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffling

2. a nasal tone or voice

3. a condition characterized by snuffling

Other Word Forms

• snuffler
  noun
• snufflingly
  adverb
• snuffly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of snuffle

First recorded in 1575–85, for an earlier sense; 1595–1605, for the current sense; from Dutch snuffelen “to nose (in something),” literally, “to sniff repeatedly,” from snuffen “to sniff,” with -el-, frequentative infix; equivalent to snuff ¹ ( def. ) + -le

Explanation

When you snuffle you breathe in a sniffly, stuffed-up way through your nose. People are most likely to snuffle when they're crying or have a bad cold. For some people, spring means warmer weather and pretty flowers, but for others it means their allergies make them snuffle and sneeze continuously. When you see a sad movie in a theater, you'll probably hear people snuffle all around you — and if you visit the zoo or a farm, you can watch animals snuffle, or sniff at things. The Old English version of snuffle is snofl, "phlegm or mucus."

Example Sentences

Other days, the project manager will play with her pup at home or throw a few treats in a snuffle mat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025

They invited a winsome six-month-old piglet named Wilma to snuffle around in the mini-meadow, which she did with tremendous focus and energy, transfixing her audience.

From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2022

We fed Typo from a snuffle mat, which encourages him to root around with his nose for food.

From Slate • Jun. 21, 2022

And deer release their feces as they feed, creating conditions where other deer might forage in areas contaminated with waste, or snuffle around waste that has feed mixed in, experts say.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2022

She throws down two more stalks, and moments later three ragwort ponies snort the air and snuffle at the ground.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• bark
• growl
• grunt
• mumble
• mutter