sniffle
5 synonyms for sniffle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To sniff repeatedly and quietly, usually because of a cold or crying.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To sniff repeatedly and quietly, usually because of a cold or crying.
“She sniffled through the whole sad movie.”
How to use sniffle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sniffle quietly
a little sniffle
Etymology
From sniff + the frequentative ending -le, suggesting a repeated small action — compare "snivel."
Full origin of sniffle →Frequently asked questions
What does “sniffle” mean?
The word “sniffle” means to sniff repeatedly and quietly, usually because of a cold or crying. In plain terms, a soft, repeated sniffing sound, often from a cold or tears.
How do you pronounce “sniffle”?
“Sniffle” is pronounced SNIHF-uhl (/ˈsnɪf.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sniffle” in a sentence?
Here is “sniffle” used in a sentence: “She sniffled through the whole sad movie.”
What part of speech is “sniffle”?
Depending on how it is used, “sniffle” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “sniffle” have?
“Sniffle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sniff repeatedly and quietly, usually because of a cold or crying.
