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Glite Dictionary
😢 To whine 🤧 To sniffle 😢 A whine
to snivel

to snivel

17 7.4
To complain in a whining, tearful way
  • verb
  • /ˈsnɪvəl/
: lloriquear
  • And stop sniveling.
  • Stop sniveling
  • sniveling coward
  • sniveling idiot

So when that person who can climb them up the ladder does start to bite and they can sort of snivel their way into there, they will.

Examples

  • Stop sniveling and tidy yourself.

    Under Capricorn (1949)

  • I am almost ready to snivel like Amy.

    Blog text (29)

  • I started to snivel, and she handed me a pile of clothes.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "Stop sniveling," I tell her, "and stand up."

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "How long will I have to be here?" I asked, still sniveling.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Do stop sniveling.

    Gosford Park (2001)

  • Quit sniveling.

    Animal Factory (2000)

  • He started to snivel when he saw the sad movie.

  • She always snivels when she doesn't get her way.

  • After the argument, he sat in the corner sniveling quietly.

Synonyms

to whine
vsto snivel
  • Informal
253 2.8

To complain in a high, annoying voice

is more tearful and self pitying rather than only an irritating voice
to lament
vsto snivel
  • Formal
63 5.0

To show or say that you feel sad about something

is less formal and more whining and self pity than solemn sorrow
to blubber
vsto snivel
  • Informal
19 6.1

To cry loudly and without control, often while talking

is more about noisy grief than complaining or seeking sympathy
to cry a river
vsto snivel
  • Informal
10 8.7

Complain a lot in a dramatic way about something that upsets you

is usually more tearful and self pitying rather than merely exaggerated complaint
to bellyache
vsto snivel
  • Informal
9 6.8

To complain a lot in an annoying way

is more tearful and self pitying rather than merely annoying complaint
to bleat
vsto snivel
7 7.7

To complain in a weak, whining voice

also includes tears and self pity rather than only weak complaining
to blub
vsto snivel
  • UK
3 9.2

Cry in a noisy, gasping way

is often more about complaining sadly rather than only noisy crying
to cry the blues
vsto snivel
  • Informal
2 7.5

To feel sad and complain to others

is more self pitying and tearful rather than general sorrow or distress
to grouch
vsto snivel
1 6.4

To complain in a bad-tempered way

is more tearful and self pitying rather than sullen, mainly critical complaining
to cry in one's beer
vsto snivel
  • Informal
1 9.6

To feel sorry for yourself and complain to get sympathy

is broader, covering tearful complaining not only self indulgent sympathy seeking
to snivel over
vsto snivel
  • Informal
1 8.6

To complain in a sad, self-pitying way about small problems

is used for self pitying complaints including more serious or general problems

Phrasal Verbs

to snivel over
  • Informal
1 8.6

To complain in a sad, self-pitying way about small problems

How Whiny

whine
  • Informal
20 3.0
to snivel
17 7.4
to complain
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

snivel infinitive
sniveled past
sniveled past participle
sniveling present participle
snivels third person singular

Etymology

Snivel probably comes from old words for 'sniff', like sniffle, the small nose sounds you make when you cry or have a cold. A helpful way to remember it is that people who snivel often make quiet sniffing noises when they are upset, so the word came to mean 'whine' or 'complain'.