snivel

C2 Topic:Communication

US /ˈsnɪv.əl/ UK /ˈsnɪv.əl/ See IPA manual

Freq #74386

Meanings

1

verb
to cry or complain in a weak, tearful way while sniffing

He began to snivel about the punishment instead of admitting what he had done.
2

verb
to sniff repeatedly because mucus is running from the nose

The child continued to snivel through the first days of the cold.
3

noun
a weak, tearful complaint or a congested sniff

She answered his long snivel with an impatient shake of her head.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to cry or complain in a... whine whimper blubber

2 verb · to sniff repeatedly because... sniffle snuffle

3 noun · a weak, tearful complaint... whine sniffle

Word family

Forms snivelling

Derived forms snivelersnivellersnivelingsnivelling

Related forms sniffle snuffle whine

Etymology

From Middle English snivelen, ultimately related to Old English words for nasal mucus and to the Germanic family behind sniff and snout. The physical sense of drawing mucus through the nose gave rise to the disparaging sense of crying or complaining weakly.

Topics

Communication

External links

# snivel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsnɪv.əl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsnɪv.əl/
**Frequency rank:** 74386

## Meanings
1. to cry or complain in a weak, tearful way while sniffing
2. to sniff repeatedly because mucus is running from the nose
3. a weak, tearful complaint or a congested sniff

## Examples
- He began to snivel about the punishment instead of admitting what he had done.
- The child continued to snivel through the first days of the cold.
- She answered his long snivel with an impatient shake of her head.

## Synonyms
- whine
- whimper
- sniffle
- snuffle

## Derived Forms
- sniveler
- sniveller
- sniveling
- snivelling

## Related Forms
- sniffle
- snuffle
- whine

## Etymology
From Middle English snivelen, ultimately related to Old English words for nasal mucus and to the Germanic family behind sniff and snout. The physical sense of drawing mucus through the nose gave rise to the disparaging sense of crying or complaining weakly.

## Topics
- Communication

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