snivelling

snivelling — adjective

1. describing a person who cries and complains in a weak, irritating way that makes

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a person who cries and complains in a weak, irritating way that makes others lose patience with them.

Example

Gabriel's snivelling complaints made the other students avoid sitting near him during class.

possessive + snivelling + plural noun (complaints)

Naoko called the plan useless in a snivelling tone that annoyed her coworkers.

snivelling + tone; describes manner of speaking

Common collocations
  • snivelling child
  • snivelling coward
  • snivelling excuse
  • snivelling tone
  • snivelling behaviour
  • snivelling complaint
Synonyms
  • whining

    more common; focuses on the irritating voice rather than crying

  • whimpering

    suggests fear or physical pain rather than weak complaining

  • blubbering

    stronger; suggests loud, uncontrolled crying, especially from a child

Antonyms
  • brave

    opposite in character — shows strength instead of weakness

  • stoic

    endures difficulty without complaint, the opposite of snivelling behaviour

Grammar Patterns

snivelling + noun

Usage Note

Always expresses disapproval of the person it describes. Often used in reported speech ('she called him a snivelling coward') and informal criticism.

Common Mistakes

The snivelling weather ruined our picnic.
The wet weather ruined our picnic.
'snivelling' describes a person's weak complaining, not weather conditions or objects.

Word family

  • snivel
    verbC1
  • sniveller
    nounC2
  • snivellingly
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe crying or complaining, but they differ in tone and context. 'Snivelling' carries the strongest disapproval — it suggests a weak, irritating person who complains instead of handling a situation. 'Whining' is more common in everyday speech and focuses on the annoying, high-pitched voice of someone who keeps complaining (e.g. 'Stop whining about the homework'). 'Whimpering' implies quiet, fearful crying caused by pain or fear rather than a weak personality (e.g. 'The dog was whimpering after hurting its paw'). 'Blubbering' is more intense and less refined, describing loud, messy crying, often by a child or someone who has lost control (e.g. 'The toddler was blubbering after falling down'). Use 'snivelling' when you want to criticise someone's character; use 'whining' for a milder complaint about someone's voice or attitude.

whining ↗whimperingblubberingsnivelling ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Derived from the verb 'snivel', which comes from Middle English 'snyvelen' (to run at the nose), related to an Old English word for mucus. The meaning shifted from a physical description of a runny nose to the emotional behaviour of crying and weak complaining, and finally to the disapproving adjective used today.