intransitive verb

1
: to sniff repeatedly : snuffle
2
: to speak with or as if with sniffling

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Also, keep a first-aid kit stocked and accessible for minor cuts, scrapes, and sniffles. 10 Appliances to Unplug Before Vacation 5. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2024 She can often be seen sniffling and at one point, breaks down in tears. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
December brings holiday cheer ... and also holiday sniffles. Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024 But many experts don’t recommend that people pop zinc tablets at the first sign of a sniffle. Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sniffle 

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 1 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

sniffle

1 of 2 verb
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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