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

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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.
Some people get the sniffles and stay home from work. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026 Or worse, waking up with the sniffles? — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 28 May 2026 But that quiet is slowly being filled with stories about you and laughter amongst the sniffles. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025 But that quiet is slowly being filled with stories about you and laughter amongst the sniffles. — Michelle Tauber, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the sniffles

Rhymes for the sniffles

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Browse Nearby Words

thesmothete
the sniffles
the social
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Cite this Entry

“The sniffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sniffles. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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