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
All this in an environment where politicians like Jeff Bridges (running for state treasurer who lives in the Cherry Creek school district) whine and snivel about his associates in the teachers’ union not having the funds to effectively teach our kids.
—
Dp Opinion,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
But Flynn also oozes sniveling self-righteousness while hotly defending and petitioning for childhood innocence (amusing hints emerge that the daughter is a somewhat lazy and dim underachiever).
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Downey redirects all his Tony Stark smarm into this portrait of a sniveling, jealous political worm, a marvelous capstone to his Hollywood comeback story.
—
Jordan Hoffman,
Vanity Fair,
15 Mar. 2026
Faced with the sniveling sum of these failures, Garfield is startled but compassionate.
—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Throughout many revealing conversations, the braggadocious zeal of Poseidon and Zeus, the sexy aloofness of Aphrodite and Dionysus, and the sniveling bitchery of Hermes and Hypnos were endearing, but all gave way to flawed people who grew deeply over time.
—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
In the show, Cooke plays the regal Alicent Hightower and Glynn-Carney is her sniveling son, King Aegon Targaryen.
—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Played by a sniveling Casey Siemaszko, Billy is spineless and spiteful.
—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
In league with its sniveling human colleague Gabriel (Esai Morales, cackling with evil intent as if being paid by the cackle), The Entity is hacking into the world’s nuclear defense systems and taking control of the missiles, one paralyzed and panicking nation at a time.
—
Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune,
Boston Herald,
22 May 2025
Dp Opinion,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
But Flynn also oozes sniveling self-righteousness while hotly defending and petitioning for childhood innocence (amusing hints emerge that the daughter is a somewhat lazy and dim underachiever).
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Downey redirects all his Tony Stark smarm into this portrait of a sniveling, jealous political worm, a marvelous capstone to his Hollywood comeback story.
—
Jordan Hoffman,
Vanity Fair,
15 Mar. 2026
Faced with the sniveling sum of these failures, Garfield is startled but compassionate.
—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Throughout many revealing conversations, the braggadocious zeal of Poseidon and Zeus, the sexy aloofness of Aphrodite and Dionysus, and the sniveling bitchery of Hermes and Hypnos were endearing, but all gave way to flawed people who grew deeply over time.
—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
In the show, Cooke plays the regal Alicent Hightower and Glynn-Carney is her sniveling son, King Aegon Targaryen.
—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Played by a sniveling Casey Siemaszko, Billy is spineless and spiteful.
—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
In league with its sniveling human colleague Gabriel (Esai Morales, cackling with evil intent as if being paid by the cackle), The Entity is hacking into the world’s nuclear defense systems and taking control of the missiles, one paralyzed and panicking nation at a time.
—
Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune,
Boston Herald,
22 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snivel
Verb
-
That admission led to gasps and whimpering by several courtroom observers.
-
Arms flew around in exasperation, and the woman left the table for such a long time that the large dog lying at their feet sat up and whimpered in the direction of her departure.
Verb
-
One mother sobbed and collapsed in grief as the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old children were wrapped in blankets and carried away.
-
On the first day of the trial, during Srebnick’s opening argument, Pino sobbed in front of the jury, leading the judge to pause proceedings.
Verb
-
The Padres, the team that put up a meme of Clayton Kershaw crying on the video board.
-
Grown men hugged one another, and at least one started crying.
Verb
-
Jessie whines about the good old days all the time — how fun is that?
-
Don’t whine about his Northern California roots or love of the local nine.
Verb
-
Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.
-
And yes, that sound will dissipate and soon will be too faint for my human ears as it is absorbed into space, but Renee Gladman writes that spaces moan.
Verb
-
Despite the lack of goals, the game was exciting with end-to-end runs and missed chances that left fans of both teams groaning and burying their heads in their hands.
-
As though on cue, Wardrobe — my beloved, and giant, closet — shuffles over from the corner of my room, the mahogany wood groaning with the effort.
Cite this Entry
“Snivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snivel. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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