the sniffles

plural noun

informal
: a slight or mild cold that causes a person to sniffle a lot
I have (a case of) the sniffles.

Examples of the sniffles in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These two rubber bands in our throat are affected by everything from hormones to psychology to a bad day to a horrible night’s sleep to the sniffles or whatever. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 The couple moved to Los Angeles together and are shown here in 1977, at home with their daughters Joanna and Antonia (who was suffering from the sniffles). — Eleni N. Gage, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026 Or worse, waking up with the sniffles? — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 28 May 2026 When someone in your household has the sniffles, Rapinchuk recommends washing your bedding more often and switching out pillowcases nightly. — Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the sniffles

Rhymes for the sniffles

See All Rhymes for the sniffles

Browse Nearby Words

thesmothete
the sniffles
the social
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The sniffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sniffles. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All