MEANING
To cry, sniff, or complain in a way presented as weak or self-pitying.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- snivel about a loss
- sniveling complaint
On the page
“Stop sniveling and tell me what happened,” the captain said.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- snivel
- Past tense
- sniveled
- Past participle
- sniveled
- Present participle
- sniveling
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- snivel
- Present continuous
- am/is/are sniveling
- Present perfect
- have/has sniveled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been sniveling
- Past
- sniveled
- Past continuous
- was/were sniveling
- Past perfect
- had sniveled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been sniveling
- Future
- will snivel
- Future continuous
- will be sniveling
- Future perfect
- will have sniveled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been sniveling
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: snivel; snivels; sniveled; sniveled; sniveling Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: snivels.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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