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
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
And is too much to have the sniveling Scots swim coach (Christopher Eccleston) actually heave a radio through the nearest window pane at a key moment?
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2024
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
And is too much to have the sniveling Scots swim coach (Christopher Eccleston) actually heave a radio through the nearest window pane at a key moment?
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snivel
Verb
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Ezra gets the ball in his hands and, after looking back at his mom while JJ whimpers excitedly, tosses the orange ball back to the dog.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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The mumbling girl is ill and must be taken to hospital, where her mother whimpers prayers over her.—
Namwali Serpell,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Creators posted videos of themselves sobbing onto the camera.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
21 May 2025
-
Through the decades, this was the county that gave us the judge who sobbed while issuing a ruling in the Anna Nicole Smith case, the judge who was found half-naked at a judicial conference, and the judges, plural, who had faced DUI charges.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Randall cries, rushing to discover Bernie collapsed on the floor in the next room.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
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Bruce is crate-trained, goes in willingly at bedtime and doesn’t bark or cry.—
Trish Stinger,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2025
Verb
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In a similar lawsuit launched in March against Trump’s reorganization of the Department of Education, Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers whined that Trump’s plan could lead to block grants to the states, some even allowing the money to go for private school vouchers.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2025
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Many comments on that post feel McIlroy is whining, but that does not seem to be the case.—
Savannah Leigh Richardson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 May 2025
Verb
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The Rockies have been a zombie baseball club for five years now, moaning and trudging along the National League cellar, wandering the darkness, looking for brains to eat.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
11 May 2025
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But the Francophone descriptor fails to conjure the dust her voice kicks up, the grit and moan that hang in the air after each song.—
Carrie Brownstein,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Friday night crowd at Target Field groaned once Koss’ line drive found grass, then showered Paddack with applause for his efforts.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 May 2025
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Broken skybridge Elsewhere across the Southeast Asian megacity, glitzy glass-and-steel buildings home to expensive real estate swayed and groaned when the quake hit, showering dust onto the ground.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Snivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snivel. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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