Definition

A sound made by breathing noisily through the nose, often when someone has a cold or is sniffing.

Example

The dog was snuffling around in the grass, looking for something to play with.

Conversation

Did you hear that weird snuffling noise last night?

Yeah, I thought it was just my imagination at first.

It sounded like something was moving outside.

I wonder if it was just a raccoon or something looking for food.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To make a noise by breathing in through the nose, often because of a cold or when trying to smell something.

Example

The dog was snuffling around the garden, searching for buried bones.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Did you hear that odd noise coming from the garden?

Yeah, it sounded like something was snuffling around.

I wonder if it's a raccoon or just a stray dog.

Root Explanation

Snuffling → The word 'snuffling' is derived from the verb 'snuffle', which comes from the Middle English 'snofflen', meaning to sniffle or breathe noisily through the nose. The root 'snuff' (from Old English 'sneofan', meaning to snore or breathe) is combined with the suffix '-ling', which denotes a diminutive or a person associated with an action. Thus, 'snuffling' refers to the act of breathing noisily through the nose, often associated with a cold or emotional state.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone who is 'sniffing' ('snuff') and doing it in a soft, gentle way ('-ling'), which helps you remember that 'snuffling' means to breathe noisily through the nose.

Visually Confused Words