What does snuffled mean?
Snuffled is the past tense and past participle of snuffle, a word for breathing or speaking with a noisy, obstructed nose. It commonly describes someone crying in a quiet, muffled way, as in “She snuffled into her handkerchief,” while also referring to the repeated sniffing sound made during a cold or an attempt to suppress tears. The word can also describe speech that is nasal or difficult to hear. Snuffled is typically informal and evocative, presenting the physical sounds and movements associated with crying or congestion. It is less common in formal writing than words such as sobbed, sniffed, or sniffled, but it is especially effective in narrative and descriptive contexts where those physical details matter.
To breathe noisily through the nose, especially because it is blocked or because the speaker is crying.
"The little boy snuffled and wiped his eyes with his sleeve."
Usually informal and often used to describe crying or speaking through a blocked nose.
Having the characteristic sound or manner of snuffling.
"His snuffled voice suggested that he had caught a bad cold."
Snuffled is the sound of a blocked nose trying to do its job: a short, noisy breath followed by a sniff.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snuffled come from?
The word comes from the verb snuffle, which developed in Middle English from roots associated with nasal breathing and repeated sniffing. It is related in meaning and formation to words such as sniff and snivel, though its precise historical development is less straightforward than that of the modern verb snuffle itself. The past form snuffled follows the regular English pattern of adding -ed to a verb ending in -le.
Related word forms
How snuffled is actually used
Snuffled is informal and usually describes a person crying, speaking through a blocked nose, or producing a series of sniffing sounds. It is often used for writing or narration rather than formal reports.