snuffle

[ snuhf-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, snuf·fled, snuf·fling.

1. to draw air into the nose for the purpose of smelling something; snuff.
2. to draw the breath or mucus through the nostrils in an audible or noisy manner; sniffle.
3. to speak through the nose or with a nasal twang.
4. to whine; snivel.

verb (used with object)

, snuf·fled, snuf·fling.

1. to utter in a nasal tone.

noun

1. an act or sound of breathing loudly through the nose.
2. (the) snuffles, a condition of the nose, such as from a cold, causing a person to breath or draw mucus through the nostrils noisily.
3. a nasal tone of voice.

snuffle

/ ˈsnʌfəl /

verb

1. intr to breathe noisily or with difficulty
2. to say or speak in a nasal tone
3. intr to snivel

noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffling
2. a nasal tone or voice
3. the snuffles
   a condition characterized by snuffling

Derived Forms

• ˈsnuffly, adjective
• ˈsnuffler, noun

Other Words From

• snuf·fler noun
• snuf·fling·ly adverb
• snuf·fly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of snuffle¹

First recorded in 1575–85, for an earlier sense; 1595–1605, for the current sense; from Dutch snuffelen “to nose (in something),” literally, “to sniff repeatedly,” from snuffen “to sniff,” with -el-, frequentative infix; equivalent to snuff ¹( def ) + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of snuffle¹

C16: from Low German or Dutch snuffelen; see snuff ¹, snivel

Example Sentences

There’s a snuffle from the bed, and I can tell he is crying.

From Literature

Snuffle mats satisfy dogs’ instincts and stimulate their brains as they “hunt” for hidden treats.

From Seattle Times

“I tend to vocalize anyway, no matter what performance I’m doing, because the breath and the vocalization energizes your body. I can’t roar like a bear, but I can definitely be loud and I can kind of snuffle and grunt and sneeze and make weird noises in the bush.”

From New York Times

They invited a winsome six-month-old piglet named Wilma to snuffle around in the mini-meadow, which she did with tremendous focus and energy, transfixing her audience.

From New York Times

There was Vanka, a trained donkey from the Cinizelli Circus, who would snuffle through the children’s pockets in search of treats and who loved to chew rubber balls.

From Literature

Related Words

• bark
• growl
• grunt
• mumble
• mutter