sniffle

1 of 2

verb

snif·​fle ˈsni-fəl How to pronounce sniffle (audio)
sniffled; sniffling ˈsni-f(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce sniffle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to sniff repeatedly : snuffle
2
: to speak with or as if with sniffling
sniffler 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
On a recent trip, Offit saw ‒ and heard ‒ an airport cleaner sniffling, sneezing and coughing. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 The audience sniffled and sighed, accompanying them. Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2024 This creates an inflammatory response that leads to sneezing, sniffling, itchy eyes, and other allergy symptoms. Nicole Harris, Parents, 10 Sep. 2023 For example, a child with ragweed allergies will experience sneezing, sniffling, and itchy eyes each fall. Nicole Harris, Parents, 10 Sep. 2023 Soon everyone will be sniffling and sneezing, hacking and coughing. Matthew Hennessey, WSJ, 28 Aug. 2023 After the 1 hour, 54-minute run time — during which the audience laughed, sniffled and cheered following a musical number led by Ryan Gosling’s Ken and accompanied by dozens of other Kens — moviegoers began to leave. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 20 July 2023 In Courtroom 2411, the sound of Kelly’s family members breathing heavily and sniffling filled the room. Samantha Latson, Washington Post, 20 July 2023 Members of the crowd sniffled and wiped away tears. Paulina Villegas, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2023
Noun
With his immune system shot, a tissue for sniffles is always at hand. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 10 Jan. 2024 Short days, sniffles, and icy temps are not exactly a recipe for a good time. David Moses, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2024 At that premiere screening, sobs and sniffles echoed constantly throughout the theater. Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2024 In a post-pandemic world, something as minor as a sniffle may feel like a much bigger deal—or at the very least, requiring an explanation. Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 6 Jan. 2024 But there’s a solid chance, with or without a test, that those sniffles were Covid after all. Celia Ford, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2024 When dry, wintry air rolls into town, your family’s sniffles and coughs can quickly send you into a frenzy to find the best humidifiers for bedrooms for some overnight relief. Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Dec. 2023 From the first sniffle to serious complications, understanding RSV is crucial, especially for vulnerable groups. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023 Balancing a fog of symptoms, including sniffles and congestion, on top of their heavy workload was a recipe for misery. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sniffle.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sniffle was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near sniffle

Cite this Entry

“Sniffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sniffle. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sniffle

1 of 2 verb
snif·​fle ˈsnif-əl How to pronounce sniffle (audio)
sniffled; sniffling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce sniffle (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sniffle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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