verb
snivel
Snivel (verb) means to breathe noisily through a blocked nose.
verb
1
To breathe noisily through a blocked nose.
2
To cry with sniffing sounds, often while complaining.
3
To utter something while sniffling or crying.
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Etymology
Came into English from Middle English snivelen, snevelen, snyvelen, snuvelen, from Old English *snyflan (attested in the verbal noun snyflung (“mucus”)), from Proto-West Germanic *snuflijan, related to Old English snofl (“mucus”) and ultimately to the root of snout. It is akin to sniff and snuff; compare sniffle. It is cognate with Middle Low German snuffelen, snüffelen (“to sniff, smell”), Danish snøvle (“to sniffle, snivel”), Norwegian Nynorsk snuvla (“to sniffle, snivel”) and Swedish snövla (“to sniffle, snivel”). Compare typologically Russian сопе́ть (sopétʹ), сопля́ (sopljá) akinness.
Related words
Rhymes for snivel
See all rhymes for snivel →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of snivel?
"snivel" (verb) means to breathe noisily through a blocked nose.
What is another word for snivel?
Other words for "snivel" include blubber, sniffle, whine, snuffle, blub.
What are the different meanings of snivel?
"snivel" has 3 main meanings: 1. To breathe noisily through a blocked nose; 2. To cry with sniffing sounds, often while complaining; 3. To utter something while sniffling or crying.
