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
Dae-ho then pulls his blade out and slashes at Gi-hun’s arm, abandoning his sniveling demeanor to scream that Gi-hun is the one who is responsible for killing everyone.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 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
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
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snivel
Verb
-
In the ward of whimpering children, Susan Martine from South Sudan cares for her 2-year-old daughter, who has sores after swelling caused by severe malnutrition.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 June 2025
-
In the ward of whimpering children, Susan Martine from South Sudan cares for her 2-year-old daughter, who has been diagnosed with severe malnutrition.—
Evelyne Musambi,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The firm had lost more than two-thirds of its staff; Lutnick sobbed during TV interviews while desperately trying to keep the business from going under.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
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The scene inside — Jota’s parents sobbing, Cardoso stricken by grief — was one of almost unbearable sadness.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Cohost Mark Consuelos teed up the moment during Tuesday morning's host chat, which shifted to cover the topic of why exhaustive marathons often make people — both participants and spectators — cry.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
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Citing a police report, Fox 35 and the News-Journal reported that Sullivan was waiting outside for Williams to show up to the home with her food delivery when her baby began to cry inside the home.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Coaches and athletic directors continue to whine about the lack of regulation and the uneven playing field.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
18 July 2025
-
Back at the house, the dog whines at the garage door.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Now-tired 2010 fads that Lorde pioneered, including bittersweet tropical-pop textures and moaning vocal snippets, are everywhere.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2025
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After one season, he was forcefully rejected by the community, which moaned to the press (and the local police) that the tranquil pondside inn was becoming a celebrity- and influencer-infested late-night party spot just like his club in the city.—
Brock Colyar,
Curbed,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Behind the door, Red groaned, then gave himself a self-motivating shout.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
Concerns that the Texas power grid, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), could soon begin to groan under the weight of surging demand, led the Texas Legislature to pass Senate Bill 6 (SB 6) in the 2025 session.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Snivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snivel. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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