snuffle

1 of 2

verb

snuf·​fle ˈsnə-fəl How to pronounce snuffle (audio)
snuffled; snuffling ˈsnə-f(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce snuffle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to snuff or sniff usually audibly and repeatedly
2
: to breathe through an obstructed nose with a sniffing sound
3
: to speak through or as if through the nose : whine

transitive verb

: to seek or test by or as if by repeated sniffs
snuffler noun

snuffle

2 of 2

noun

1
snuffles plural : sniffles
2
: the act or sound of snuffling
3
: a nasal twang

Examples of snuffle in a Sentence

Verb The child was snuffling in his room.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Elephants are trampling the thirsty turf, sending sprays of dust into the dry savannah air, and buffalos are bent with their snuffling snouts to the ground. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2023 Local residents popped in to buy vegetables from a shack built out of recycled materials, while an enormous sow snuffled in the heather beside a vegetable garden. Hisako Ueno, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2023 There is an amazing array of puzzles that require dogs to roll, shake, lick or snuffle a product to access food or treats. Melanie D.g. Kaplan, Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2023 Two canines in Massachusetts are the first to be used by a law enforcement agency to snuffle the virus. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 July 2021 At night, wild boars snuffled outside the tents, searching for food scraps. New York Times, 24 Jan. 2020 If any swine is fit to be an organ donor for people, then the dozens of pigs snuffling around Qihan Bio’s facility in Hangzhou, China, may be the best candidates so far. Kelly Servick, Science | AAAS, 19 Dec. 2019 Whether that will help the person softly snuffling in the last bathroom stall because their expense report got returned for a third time isn't clear. Aj Willingham, CNN, 16 Aug. 2019 The little creature was sniffing and snuffling and scratching the dirt, looking for ants. Paul Hilton, National Geographic, 17 June 2019
Noun
Their small sounds and snuffles were barely audible above the lilting bleeps of incubators in the neonatal ward. Hajar Harb, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 Try implementing a few lifestyle changes: Take her on longer walks in the morning, bring her to a dog park in the afternoon, supply her with brain-teasing toys like snuffle mats or puzzle feeders. Hannah Harper, Health.com, 22 Sep. 2021 Hide treats in multiple pockets of a snuffle mat to test canine foraging skills. oregonlive, 21 Aug. 2020 Regular exercise and mental stimulation also reduce anxiety. Hide treats in multiple pockets of a snuffle mat to test canine foraging skills. oregonlive, 12 May 2020 The sounds of the season are sprinkled with sniffles, snuffles and snorts. Cindy George, Houston Chronicle, 18 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snuffle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

akin to Dutch snuffelen to snuffle — more at snivel

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1717, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of snuffle was circa 1600

Dictionary Entries Near snuffle

Cite this Entry

“Snuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snuffle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

snuffle

1 of 2 verb
snuf·​fle ˈsnəf-əl How to pronounce snuffle (audio)
snuffled; snuffling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce snuffle (audio)
1
: to snuff or sniff usually loudly and over and over again
2
: to breathe through a partly blocked nose with a sniffing sound
3

snuffle

2 of 2 noun
: the sound made in snuffling

More from Merriam-Webster on snuffle

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