Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense snivels, present participle snivelling, past tense, past participle snivelledregional note: in AM, use sniveling, sniveled
verb
If someone is snivelling, they are crying or sniffing in a way that irritates you.
Billy started to snivel. His mother smacked his hand. [VERB]
...a journalist snivelling with the flu. [VERB]
Snivel is also a noun.
Carol managed a few proper snivels for the sake of appearance.
More Synonyms of snivel
snivel in British English
(ˈsnɪvəl)
verbWord forms: -els, -elling, -elledWord forms: US-els, -eling or -eled
1. (intransitive)
to sniffle as a sign of distress, esp contemptibly
2.
to utter (something) tearfully; whine
3. (intransitive)
to have a runny nose
noun
4.
an instance of snivelling
Derived forms
sniveller (ˈsniveller) or US sniveler (ˈsniveler)
noun
snivelling (ˈsnivelling) or US sniveling (ˈsniveling)
adjective, noun
snivelly (ˈsnivelly) or US snively (ˈsnively)
adjective
Word origin
C14 snivelen; related to Old English snyflung mucus, Dutch snuffelen to smell out, Old Norse snoppa snout
snivel in American English
(ˈsnɪvəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈsniveled or ˈsnivelled, ˈsniveling or ˈsnivelling
1.
to have mucus running from the nose
2.
to sniff repeatedly, as from a head cold, crying, etc.; sniffle
3.
to cry and sniffle
4.
to fret or complain in a whining, tearful manner
5.
to make a whining, tearful, often false display of grief, sympathy, disappointment, etc.
noun
6.
nasal mucus
7.
the act of sniveling
8.
a sniveling display of grief, etc.
Derived forms
sniveler (ˈsniveler)
noun
Word origin
ME snivelen < OE *snyflan < base seen in snofl, mucus, prob. ult. < IE base *sneu-, to flow
Examples of 'snivel' in a sentence
snivel
And they don't talk about death like it was easy stuff then snivel if they start to hurt a little.
Clive Barker THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (2001)
Passed the bottle, Burnell also took an immense swig and suddenly began to snivel.
Aldiss, Brian SOMEWHERE EAST OF LIFE (2001)
All Emily could do was wrap up in Joyce's grandmother's antique quilt and snivel, sniffle, and whine privately.
Kalpakian, Laura GRACED LAND (2001)
(verb)
Definition
to say (something) tearfully
a snivelling child
Synonyms
whine
He could hear a child whining in the background.
cry
I hung up the phone and started to cry.
whinge (informal)
people who whinge about their alleged misfortunes
weep
She began to weep, tears running down her face.
moan (informal)
I used to moan if I didn't get at least 8 hours' sleep.
gripe (informal)
She started griping about the prices they were charging.
whimper
She lay at the bottom of the stairs, whimpering in pain.
grizzle (informal, mainly British)
The children were grizzling and complaining.
blubber
To their surprise, their mother started to blubber like a child.
sniffle
snuffle
mewl
Shut up, Steven, you mewling little wimp.
girn (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blubber
Definition
to sob without restraint
To their surprise, their mother started to blubber like a child.
Synonyms
weep,
sob,
wail,
whimper,
bawl,
snivel,
yowl,
greet (Scottish, archaic),
mewl,
howl your eyes out
in the sense of cry
Definition
to shed tears
I hung up the phone and started to cry.
Synonyms
weep,
sob,
bawl,
shed tears,
keen,
greet (Scottish, archaic),
wail,
whine,
whimper,
whinge (informal),
blubber,
snivel,
yowl,
boohoo,
pule,
mewl,
howl your eyes out,
lament
in the sense of gripe
Definition
to complain persistently
She started griping about the prices they were charging.
Synonyms
complain,
moan (informal),
groan (informal),
grumble,
beef (slang),
carp,
bitch (slang),
nag,
whine,
grouse,
bleat,
grouch (informal),
bellyache (slang),
kvetch (US, slang)
Nearby words of
snivel
snip
snipe
snippet
snivel
snob
snobbery
snobbish
Synonyms of 'snivel'
snivel
Explore 'snivel' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grizzle
Definition
to whine or complain
The children were grizzling and complaining.
Synonyms
whine,
fret,
whimper,
whinge (informal),
snivel,
pule,
girn (Scottish)
in the sense of mewl
Definition
(esp. of a baby) to cry weakly
Shut up, Steven, you mewling little wimp.
Synonyms
whimper,
cry,
whine,
whinge (informal),
grizzle (informal, British),
blubber,
snivel,
pule
in the sense of moan
Definition
to grumble or complain
I used to moan if I didn't get at least 8 hours' sleep.
Synonyms
grumble,
complain,
groan (informal),
whine,
beef (slang),
carp,
bitch (slang),
grouse,
gripe (informal),
whinge (informal),
bleat,
moan and groan,
grouch (informal)
in the sense of weep
Definition
to shed tears
She began to weep, tears running down her face.
Synonyms
cry,
shed tears,
sob,
whimper,
complain,
keen,
greet (Scottish),
moan,
mourn,
grieve,
lament,
whinge (informal),
blubber,
snivel,
ululate,
blub (slang),
boohoo
in the sense of whimper
Definition
to cry, complain, or say (something) in a whining plaintive way
She lay at the bottom of the stairs, whimpering in pain.