SNIVEL (snivelled, snivelling)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: snivelled    , snivelling   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does snivel mean? 

• SNIVEL (noun)
  The noun SNIVEL has 2 senses:

1. whining in a tearful manner

2. the act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested)

  Familiarity information: SNIVEL used as a noun is rare.

• SNIVEL (verb)
  The verb SNIVEL has 3 senses:

1. talk in a tearful manner

2. snuff up mucus through the nose

3. cry or whine with snuffling

  Familiarity information: SNIVEL used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SNIVEL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Whining in a tearful manner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

snivel; sniveling

Hypernyms ("snivel" is a kind of...):

crying; tears; weeping (the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds))

Derivation:

snivel (cry or whine with snuffling)

snivel (talk in a tearful manner)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

sniffle; snivel; snuffle

Hypernyms ("snivel" is a kind of...):

breathing; external respiration; respiration; ventilation (the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation)

Derivation:

snivel (snuff up mucus through the nose)

• SNIVEL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they snivel    ... he / she / it snivels   
Past simple: sniveled    / snivelled   
Past participle: sniveled    / snivelled   
-ing form: sniveling    / snivelling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Talk in a tearful manner

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

snivel; whine

Hypernyms (to "snivel" is one way to...):

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Verb group:

grizzle; whine; yammer; yawp (complain whiningly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue snivel

Derivation:

snivel (whining in a tearful manner)

sniveller (a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Snuff up mucus through the nose

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

snivel; snuffle

Hypernyms (to "snivel" is one way to...):

breathe in; inhale; inspire (draw in (air))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

snivel (the act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested))

sniveller (a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cry or whine with snuffling

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

blub; blubber; sniffle; snivel; snuffle

Context example:

Stop snivelling--you got yourself into this mess!

Hypernyms (to "snivel" is one way to...):

cry; weep (shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

snivel; sniveling (whining in a tearful manner)

sniveller (a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining)

 Context examples 

Order! No snivel!—no sentiment!—no regret!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I never snivel over trifles like that.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Uriah Heep gave a kind of snivel.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I, the Socman, am shorn of my lands that you may snivel Latin and eat bread for which you never did hand's turn.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Beauty Smith was known far and wide as the weakest of weak-kneed and snivelling cowards.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Cringing and snivelling himself before the blows or angry speech of a man, he revenged himself, in turn, upon creatures weaker than he.

(White Fang, by Jack London)