sniffle

1 of 2

verb

snif·​fle ˈsni-fəl 

sniffled; sniffling ˈsni-f(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to sniff repeatedly : snuffle

2

: to speak with or as if with sniffling

sniffler

ˈsni-f(ə-)lər 

noun

sniffle

2 of 2

noun

1

sniffles plural : a head cold marked by nasal discharge

2

: an act or sound of sniffling

Examples of sniffle in a Sentence

Verb

The children have been sniffling for a week now.

“In your family's eyes,” she sniffled, “I'm not good enough.”

Noun

He couldn't stop his sniffles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Wen: Common symptoms include runny or stuffy nose, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, scratchy throat, and itching and burning in the nose, mouth and eyes. —Katia Hetter, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024

Popular on Variety During the screening, audience members at the Roy Thomson Hall broke into applause several times and sniffled at more poignant moments in the film. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Sep. 2024

Noun

In anticipation of the upcoming season of sniffles, Kaiser Permanente, other health care providers, and pharmacies around the country have been promoting the vaccines now that both annual formulations are available. —Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2024

His fellow officers, nine in uniform, looked on and sniffles rippled across the room at the funeral home Monday as the Michigan State Police chaplain, Deacon Aaron Poyer, prayed for comfort. —Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of sniff

First Known Use

Verb

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sniffle

1 of 2 verb

snif·​fle ˈsnif-əl 

sniffled; sniffling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to sniff repeatedly

2

: to speak with or as if with sniffling

sniffle

2 of 2 noun

1

plural : a common cold in which the main symptom is a runny nose

2

: an act or sound of sniffling