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
But when Aurelius informs his son, Commodus (a sniveling Joaquin Phoenix), the latter murders his father before the decision is made public.
—
Lisa De Los Reyes, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
But Sarah had only driven about a block before Jamie called to snivel out an apology.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 24 Nov. 2024
Tom Felton, who played the sniveling Slytherin in every Potter film, wrote a tribute to the actress on Instagram.
—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
Lisa De Los Reyes, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
But Sarah had only driven about a block before Jamie called to snivel out an apology.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 24 Nov. 2024
Tom Felton, who played the sniveling Slytherin in every Potter film, wrote a tribute to the actress on Instagram.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snivel
Verb
-
This makes Solo an interesting foil for Nichols, a whimpering man-child to her hypercompetent and quiet loner.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
17 Jan. 2025
-
That said, the whimpering Chamberlain still gives me the heebie-jeebies.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes,
29 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Ferreira sobs hysterically, spouts horrific recounts of an abusive childhood, and slowly opens up, all in the span of a two-hour film.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2025
-
This was sobbing, chest-heaving crying — very wet and loud.—
Dan Pompei,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Critics cried nepotism and lamented Robert F. Kennedy’s lack of qualifications and prior experience.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
17 Jan. 2025
-
All this recalls the fable of the boy who cried wolf once too often.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Austin appeared in the second segment, playing a woman being driven to distraction by her endlessly whining husband with Jean-Baptiste as her sibling.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2025
-
After lots of whining from Jenny and a dust incident that has Jordan hamming it up like a soccer player flopping for a foul, the players tuck in for a few hours of sleep.—
Emma Sharpe,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Jasmine moans with pleasure as Gino traces her legs with his tongue.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
22 Dec. 2024
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Many of the patients were critically ill and moaning in pain from broken bones, head gashes and other injuries blamed on Tropical Storm Helene.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On sports talk shows and social media, commentators, fans and players alike groaned about the voter.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Thirty minutes later, the Sun reported, medics still had not tended to a distraught woman half-buried by the shattered stands, groaning, with both legs apparently broken.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near snivel
Cite this Entry
“Snivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snivel. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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