as in to whimper
to complain or cry in an annoying way
The child sniveled until he got his way.
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Recent Examples of snivel
Tom Felton, who played the sniveling Slytherin in every Potter film, wrote a tribute to the actress on Instagram.
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Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 28 Sep. 2024
Still, the war between the virtuous Autobots and the sniveling Decepticons has enough sheer weirdness to it to serve as inspiration for compelling fiction, even if Michael Bay has never managed to crack that code.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024
But any hopes of a warm and fuzzy family reunion were dashed in the Season 3 finale, when Soldier Boy called Homelander weak and sniveling.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 18 July 2024
Gollum feels some guilt, finally Photo: New Line Cinema
Serkis does a fantastic job in The Two Towers bouncing back and forth between the aggressive and conniving Gollum and the needy and sniveling Smeagol as the creature grows close to Frodo but is also increasingly drawn to the One Ring.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024
And is too much to have the sniveling Scots swim coach (Christopher Eccleston) actually heave a radio through the nearest window pane at a key moment?
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2024
Like what, low-crawling out of town like a bunch of sniveling cowards?
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024
Succession did a lot of things right — hiring Nicholas Britell to compose its instantly delectable theme music and score the show, turning Mr. Darcy into the sniveling sycophant that is Tom Wambsgans, making Willa write the flop play Sands that bankrupts her sugar daddy.
—Vulture, 21 Dec. 2023
In 1961, for a conference convened by Lefebvre himself, the S.I. submitted a tape recording—attending would have suggested a sniveling reverence for expertise.
—Tobi Haslett, Harper's Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 28 Sep. 2024
Still, the war between the virtuous Autobots and the sniveling Decepticons has enough sheer weirdness to it to serve as inspiration for compelling fiction, even if Michael Bay has never managed to crack that code.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024
But any hopes of a warm and fuzzy family reunion were dashed in the Season 3 finale, when Soldier Boy called Homelander weak and sniveling.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 18 July 2024
Gollum feels some guilt, finally Photo: New Line Cinema
Serkis does a fantastic job in The Two Towers bouncing back and forth between the aggressive and conniving Gollum and the needy and sniveling Smeagol as the creature grows close to Frodo but is also increasingly drawn to the One Ring.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024
And is too much to have the sniveling Scots swim coach (Christopher Eccleston) actually heave a radio through the nearest window pane at a key moment?
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2024
Like what, low-crawling out of town like a bunch of sniveling cowards?
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024
Succession did a lot of things right — hiring Nicholas Britell to compose its instantly delectable theme music and score the show, turning Mr. Darcy into the sniveling sycophant that is Tom Wambsgans, making Willa write the flop play Sands that bankrupts her sugar daddy.
—Vulture, 21 Dec. 2023
In 1961, for a conference convened by Lefebvre himself, the S.I. submitted a tape recording—attending would have suggested a sniveling reverence for expertise.
—Tobi Haslett, Harper's Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snivel
Verb
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In the video, one of the woman’s young daughters whimpers and the other clasps tightly to her distraught, Mickey ears headband-wearing mother while begging strangers for help.Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
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Fast forward to the present day, Jesse spoke softly to Jenn, who was still crying and whimpering as Devin sat next to her on the sofa.KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2024
Verb
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And in one particularly disturbing scene, Oliver gets intoxicated, begins repeatedly hitting himself in the face and rushes toward the balcony sobbing.August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
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The Minnesota governor's son was thrust into the national spotlight in August when he was filmed sobbing and cheering on his father at the Democratic National Convention.Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
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This is a real bummer for Schmitt’s BFF, Helm, who cries even as Schmitt promises to FaceTime during their favorite trash-TV shows.Laura Bradley, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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The breakup left Marissa visibly heartbroken, as she was seen crying on the floor. Season 7 of Love Is Blind season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.Angel Saunders, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Advertisement Residents, government officials and experts say the town is a model for coping with dramatic shifts and attribute it to the rural mindset that focuses on fixing, not whining.Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024
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The video shows Daisy standing and staring out the window, whining and panting as a shelter member tries to comfort her.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Warren wrote: Wounded women and children crying and moaning, horribly mangled by the bullets … Two Indian men were killed in the hole … Seven women were killed … and three children, two of them in their mothers’ arms.Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
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The officers try to stand him up, but McAlpin – still moaning – cannot stand.Emily Palmer, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
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My muscles groaned against the weight of the skin around them, aching to be set loose.Jem Aswad, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
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Harris searches his pockets – as McAlpin groans – dumping out his earbuds, keys and loose change.Emily Palmer, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near snivel
Cite this Entry
“Snivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snivel. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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