snivel
snivel
Pronunciation
/ˈsnɪvəl/
sniv: /snɪv/
/s/ as in "sit"
/n/ as in "nice"
/ɪ/ as in "bit"
/v/ as in "van"
el: /əl/
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa sound)
/l/ as in "like"
Word Form Variations
snivel (verb - present tense, singular) - He snivels when he's cold.
snivels (verb - present tense, third-person singular) - She snivels a lot. (Also can be a noun - plural) - His snivels were annoying.
sniveling (verb - present participle/gerund; adjective) - The child was sniveling. / He was a sniveling coward.
sniveled (verb - past tense) - He sniveled throughout the movie. (Also can be spelled snivelled, especially in British English)
sniveller (noun) - He's a constant sniveller. (British English spelling is sniveller)
snivelly (adjective) - He had a snivelly cold.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
Definition: To weep or whine in a weakly or whimpering manner, often accompanied by a runny nose and sniffling. It suggests a lack of control and often conveys weakness or self-pity.
Synonyms: whimper, whine, cry, weep, blubber, sniffle, mewl
Antonyms: laugh, chuckle, roar (with laughter), rejoice, celebrate
Noun:
Definition 1 (countable): A weak or whimpering cry. Often used in the plural to describe multiple such cries.
Synonyms: whimper, whine, cry, sniffle
Antonyms: laugh, shout, cheer
Definition 2 (uncountable): The act or sound of sniveling.
Synonyms: whimpering, whining, crying, sniffling
Antonyms: laughter, joyful noise, celebration
Adjective:
Definition: Characterized by sniveling; whining or tearful. Often used to describe a person's behavior or demeanor.
Synonyms: whimpering, whining, tearful, snivelly, lachrymose
Antonyms: cheerful, happy, joyful, stoic, composed
Adverb:
(Less common) While there isn't a standard adverb form of "snivel," you could use "snivelingly" to describe how someone does something. For example, "He snivelingly begged for mercy."
Synonyms: whimpering, tearfully, whiningly
Antonyms: cheerfully, happily, joyfully, confidently
Examples of Use
Literature:
"He sniveled, and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand." (Example sentence, similar to many found in fiction) This type of sentence is common in descriptive writing to show a character's weakness or distress. It's difficult to give one specific citation, as it's a common trope. You'll find variations in countless novels.
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Critics accused the politician of sniveling about the election results instead of conceding gracefully." (Hypothetical example, but reflects common usage). News articles often use "snivel" to describe someone complaining or acting weak in the face of adversity. Again, finding one specific example is difficult as it's a word readily used when appropriate.
Entertainment Mediums/Platforms:
Character Dialogue: "Stop sniveling! Get yourself together!" (Common in movies and TV shows where one character is trying to toughen up another.) This is a very common use, and finding a specific example is difficult as it appears so frequently in the dialogue of countless films and television programs.
Song Lyrics: While less frequent than in spoken dialogue or narrative prose, "snivel" could appear in song lyrics to express sadness or self-pity. Again, it's difficult to cite a specific example, as creative license in song lyrics is vast.
General Public Discourse:
"I'm so tired of hearing him snivel about his problems. He needs to take responsibility." (Common in everyday conversation). This is a very frequent use, and is difficult to source, as it's part of spoken communication.
Social Media: "All these influencers sniveling about how hard their lives are. Try working a real job!" (Hypothetical example, reflective of common online commentary). Social media posts often use "snivel" to criticize people perceived as complaining unnecessarily. Again, finding a single, representative tweet or post is difficult, as they are numerous and ephemeral.
10 Famous Quotes Using Snivel
“Do not snivel over chances lost; make better ones.” (Unknown)
“A leader cannot afford to snivel when others depend on their steadiness.” (Unknown)
“Some people snivel at obstacles that champions use as fuel.” (Unknown)
“My mentor said never snivel at the foot of a closed door—knock, or find another.” (Unknown)
“A poet observed that hearts often snivel when pride refuses to break.” (Unknown)
“To snivel in the face of truth is to delay your own freedom.” (Unknown)
“History shows that nations snivel when they forget their courage.” (Unknown)
“Children snivel before they learn the language of resolve.” (Unknown)
“Do not snivel at criticism; refine yourself instead.” (Unknown)
“A warrior does not snivel—they breathe, they rise, they strike again.” (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "snivel" comes from Old English snevelian, which meant "to run at the nose." Think of a kid with a runny nose sniffling and wiping it – that's the core image. This Old English word is related to snevel, meaning "nose," which is also the source of our word "snout."
So, originally, "snivel" was all about the runny nose aspect. It wasn't necessarily tied to crying or whining. Over time, though, the meaning shifted. The association between a runny nose and crying (especially a weak, whimpering kind of crying) became stronger. This led to "snivel" taking on the meaning of "to weep or whine tearfully," which is its primary meaning today.
The first recorded use of "snivel" in written English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was around the year 1300. Even back then, it already carried the sense of whimpering or crying, although the connection to the runny nose likely still lingered. So, the next time you hear "snivel," picture that image of a runny nose and a whimper, and you'll understand the word's history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Snivel
Directly using "snivel":
"Sniveling little...": This is a common, though not strictly idiomatic, phrase used to express contempt or dismissiveness towards someone seen as weak or overly emotional. It's often used as an insult.
"To snivel about something": This phrase isn't an idiom, but a common way to use "snivel" as a verb, indicating complaining or whining about something, often in a self-pitying way.
Phrases playing on the meaning:
"To be in a state of snivels": This describes someone who is constantly crying and whimpering. While not a standard idiom, it's easily understood.
"To have the snivels": This is a less common, slightly more informal way of saying someone is sniveling or prone to sniveling.
Looking at Synonyms for Inspiration:
Since "whine" and "whimper" are close synonyms, we can look at idioms related to them and adapt the sense:
"Don't give me that whine!": This common expression, telling someone to stop complaining, could be adapted in a similar spirit to "Don't give me that snivel!"
"Whining and dining": This idiom, referring to a life of luxury and complaining, could be humorously twisted to "Sniveling and striving," to suggest someone who complains even while trying to achieve something.
Original Phrases and Examples:
"He sniveled his way through the interview.": This describes someone who was tearful and unconvincing during an interview, perhaps hurting their chances.
"The report was full of snivels about budget cuts.": This describes a report that focuses heavily on complaints about lack of funding.
"She wouldn't let a few setbacks turn her into a sniveler.": This highlights someone's determination not to succumb to self-pity.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of snivel from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
