different between whimper vs sniffle

English

Etymology

From dialectal whimp (“to whine”) +? -er (frequentative suffix). Compare German wimmern (“to whimper, whine”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?w?mp?(?)/, /???mp?(?)/
• Rhymes: -?mp?(?)

Noun

whimper (plural whimpers)

1. A low intermittent sob.

Translations

Verb

whimper (third-person singular simple present whimpers, present participle whimpering, simple past and past participle whimpered)

1. To cry or sob softly and intermittently.

   The lonely puppy began to whimper as soon as we left the room.

   • 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

     At the sight of Mr. Utterson, the housemaid broke into hysterical whimpering; and the cook, crying out "Bless God! it's Mr. Utterson," ran forward as if to take him in her arms.

2. To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; to whine; to complain.
   • March 22 1549, Hugh Latimer, third sermon preached before King Edward VI

     Was there ever yet preacher but there were gainsayers that spurned, that winced, that whimpered against him?

3. To say something in a whimpering manner.

   "Master, please don't punish me!" he whimpered.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:weep

Derived terms

• whimperative

Translations

English

Etymology

sniff +? -le (frequentative suffix)

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?f?l

Verb

sniffle (third-person singular simple present sniffles, present participle sniffling, simple past and past participle sniffled)

1. (intransitive) To make a whimpering or sniffing sound when breathing, because of a runny nose.

   Sonia sniffled a little, and her eyes were puffy and wet.

2. (transitive) To utter with a whimpering or sniffing sound.

   He sniffled a pathetic apology.

Translations

Noun

sniffle (plural sniffles)

1. The act, or the sound of sniffling; the condition of having a runny or wet nose, as from a cold or allergies.

   I sometimes have a sniffle during allergy season.

Translations

Anagrams

• niffles