Sniffle vs. Cry — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 16, 2024
Sniffle refers to a quiet, involuntary sound made when one is slightly congested or suppressing tears, whereas cry involves shedding tears and often making audible sobbing noises. Both are reactions to emotions or physical conditions.
Difference Between Sniffle and Cry
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sniffle is a gentle sound typically produced when someone has a minor nasal congestion or is holding back tears. It often involves drawing in air through the nose to prevent mucus from running. Sniffling is usually less intense and more controlled than crying and can be a subtle indication of emotional distress or a mild cold. On the other hand, crying is a more intense emotional response that involves shedding tears and can include sobbing or vocal expressions of sorrow, pain, or joy. Crying is a more overt and physical display of emotion and is commonly associated with strong feelings.
Sniffling often accompanies mild colds, allergies, or attempts to control crying. It can be a repetitive, soft sound and is usually less noticeable than crying. Crying, in contrast, is a prominent reaction to strong emotions such as sadness, happiness, or frustration and often leads to visible tears, a red face, and audible sobs.
In terms of social perception, sniffles may be seen as a polite attempt to maintain composure or indicate minor discomfort. Crying, however, is generally recognized as a significant emotional release, drawing more attention and often eliciting empathy or concern from others.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Quiet sound from nasal congestion or holding back tears
Shedding tears, often with sobbing noises
Intensity
Mild, controlled
Intense, overt
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Causes
Mild colds, allergies, suppressing tears
Strong emotions like sadness or joy
Social Perception
Polite attempt to maintain composure
Significant emotional release
Physical Signs
Soft, repetitive nasal sounds
Tears, red face, audible sobs
Compare with Definitions
Sniffle
The act of drawing air through the nose to prevent mucus from running.
She tried to hold back her tears with a sniffle.
Cry
The act of shedding tears due to strong emotions.
She began to cry when she heard the sad news.
Sniffle
A quiet, involuntary sound from slight nasal congestion.
He had a sniffle from the cold air outside.
Cry
Often involves vocal expressions of sorrow, pain, or joy.
The baby started to cry loudly in the middle of the night.
Sniffle
A subtle indication of minor emotional distress or physical condition.
His sniffle suggested he was trying not to cry.
Cry
An overt display of emotion, leading to visible tears.
He couldn't stop the tears and started to cry openly.
Sniffle
A mild symptom of a cold or allergy.
The child had a constant sniffle during allergy season.
Cry
Shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow
Don't cry—it'll be all right
You'll cry tears of joy
Sniffle
A soft, repetitive sound indicating minor discomfort.
You could hear her occasional sniffle as she read the sad letter.
Cry
Shout or scream, typically to express fear, pain, or grief
The little girl fell down and cried for mummy
Sniffle
A sniffle is the instinctive action of inhaling quickly to prevent mucus from flowing from one's nose, as an alternative to blowing the nose.
Cry
(of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call
The wild birds cried out over the water
Sniffle
To inhale or exhale audibly through a runny or congested nose.
Cry
A loud inarticulate shout or scream expressing a powerful feeling or emotion
A cry of despair
Sniffle
To weep or whimper lightly.
Cry
The loud characteristic call of a bird or other animal
The harsh cries of magpies
Sniffle
The act or sound of sniffling.
Cry
A spell of shedding tears
I still have a cry, sometimes, when I realize that my mother is dead
Sniffle
Sniffles A condition, such as a head cold, accompanied by congestion of the nose. Used with the.
Cry
A pack of hounds
He kept a cry of hounds to hunt in the wilderness
Sniffle
(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.
Cry
To shed tears, especially as a result of strong emotion such as grief, sorrow, pain, or joy.
Sniffle
(transitive) To utter with a whimpering or sniffing sound.
He sniffled a pathetic apology.
Cry
To call loudly; shout.
Sniffle
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.
Cry
To utter a characteristic sound or call. Used of an animal.
Sniffle
To snuffle, as one does with a catarrh.
Cry
To demand or require immediate action or remedy
Grievances crying out for redress.
Sniffle
The act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested)
Cry
To utter loudly; call out.
Sniffle
Cry or whine with snuffling;
Stop snivelling--you got yourself into this mess!
Cry
To proclaim or announce in public
Crying one's wares in the marketplace.
Sniffle
Inhale audibly through the nose;
The sick student was sniffling in the back row
Cry
To bring into a particular condition by weeping
Cry oneself to sleep.
Cry
(Archaic) To beg for; implore
Cry forgiveness.
Cry
A loud utterance of an emotion, such as fear, anger, or despair.
Cry
A loud exclamation; a shout or call.
Cry
A fit of weeping
Had a good long cry.
Cry
An urgent entreaty or appeal.
Cry
A public or general demand or complaint.
Cry
A common view or general report.
Cry
An advertising of wares by calling out
Vendors' cries at the fish market.
Cry
A rallying call or signal
A cry to arms.
Cry
A slogan, especially a political one.
Cry
The characteristic call or utterance of an animal.
Cry
The baying of hounds during the chase.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
Cry
(Obsolete) Clamor; outcry.
Cry
(Obsolete) A public announcement; a proclamation.
Cry
(intransitive) To shed tears; to weep.
That sad movie always makes me cry.
Cry
(transitive) To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.
Cry
(ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.
Cry
(intransitive) To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.
Cry
(transitive) To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.
Tonight I’ll cry myself to sleep.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, auctioned, etc.
To cry goods
Cry
Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.
Cry
A shedding of tears; the act of crying.
After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry.
Cry
A shout or scream.
I heard a cry from afar.
Cry
Words shouted or screamed.
A battle cry
Cry
A clamour or outcry.
Cry
(collectively) A group of hounds.
Cry
A pack or company of people.
Cry
(of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.
"Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.
Cry
A desperate or urgent request.
Cry
(obsolete) Common report; gossip.
Cry
To make a loud call or cry; to call or exclaim vehemently or earnestly; to shout; to vociferate; to proclaim; to pray; to implore.
And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice.
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Some cried after him to return.
Cry
To utter lamentations; to lament audibly; to express pain, grief, or distress, by weeping and sobbing; to shed tears; to bawl, as a child.
Ye shall cry for sorrow of heart.
I could find it in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry like a woman.
Cry
To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals.
The young ravens which cry.
In a cowslip's bell I lieThere I couch when owls do cry.
Cry
To utter loudly; to call out; to shout; to sound abroad; to declare publicly.
All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I 'll speak.
The man . . . ran on,crying, Life! life! Eternal life!
Cry
To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping; as, to cry one's self to sleep.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to declare publicly; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, ets.; as, to cry goods, etc.
Love is lost, and thus she cries him.
Cry
To publish the banns of, as for marriage.
I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.
Men of dissolute lives cry down religion, because they would not be under the restraints of it.
Cry
A loud utterance; especially, the inarticulate sound produced by one of the lower animals; as, the cry of hounds; the cry of wolves.
Cry
Outcry; clamor; tumult; popular demand.
Again that cry was found to have been as unreasonable as ever.
Cry
Any expression of grief, distress, etc., accompanied with tears or sobs; a loud sound, uttered in lamentation.
There shall be a great cry throughout all the land.
An infant crying in the night,An infant crying for the light;And with no language but a cry.
Cry
Loud expression of triumph or wonder or of popular acclamation or favor.
The cry went once on thee.
Cry
Importunate supplication.
O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls.
Cry
Public advertisement by outcry; proclamation, as by hawkers of their wares.
The street cries of London.
Cry
Common report; fame.
The cry goes that you shall marry her.
Cry
A word or phrase caught up by a party or faction and repeated for effect; as, the party cry of the Tories.
All now depends upon a good cry.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
A cry more tunableWas never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.
Cry
A pack or company of persons; - in contempt.
Would not this . . . get me a fellowship in a cry of players?
Cry
The crackling noise made by block tin when it is bent back and forth.
Cry
A loud utterance; often in protest or opposition;
The speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience
Cry
A loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate);
A cry of rage
A yell of pain
Cry
A slogan used to rally support for a cause;
A cry to arms
Our watchword will be `democracy'
Cry
A fit of weeping;
Had a good cry
Cry
The characteristic utterance of an animal;
Animal cries filled the night
Cry
Utter a sudden loud cry;
She cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle
I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me
Cry
Shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain;
She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death
The girl in the wheelchair wept with frustration when she could not get up the stairs
Cry
Utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy;
`I won!' he exclaimed
`Help!' she cried
`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost
Cry
Proclaim or announce in public;
Before we had newspapers, a town cryer would cry the news
He cried his merchandise in the market square
Cry
Demand immediate action;
This situation is crying for attention
Cry
Utter a characteristic sound;
The cat was crying
Cry
Bring into a particular state by crying;
The little boy cried himself to sleep
Cry
A significant emotional release.
After holding it in all day, he finally let himself cry.
Cry
Can include audible sobbing noises.
Her cry was filled with deep, heartfelt sobs.
Common Curiosities
When do people usually sniffle?
People sniffle when they have a minor cold, allergies, or are trying to suppress tears.
What is a cry?
Crying involves shedding tears and often includes sobbing or vocal expressions of emotion.
Is sniffling less intense than crying?
Yes, sniffling is typically less intense and more controlled than crying.
Can sniffles indicate emotional distress?
Yes, sniffling can be a subtle indication of emotional distress.
When do people usually cry?
People cry in response to strong emotions such as sadness, joy, or frustration.
How do others generally perceive crying?
Crying is recognized as a significant emotional release and often elicits empathy.
Is crying a more noticeable reaction than sniffling?
Yes, crying is more noticeable and draws more attention than sniffling.
Can allergies cause sniffling?
Yes, allergies can cause sniffling due to nasal congestion.
What is a sniffle?
A sniffle is a quiet, involuntary sound made when slightly congested or trying to hold back tears.
What physical signs accompany a sniffle?
Sniffling usually involves soft, repetitive nasal sounds.
Can crying be a reaction to happiness?
Yes, people can cry due to strong feelings of happiness.
Can sniffling turn into crying?
Yes, if emotional distress increases, sniffling can turn into crying.
What physical signs accompany crying?
Crying often includes visible tears, a red face, and audible sobs.
How do others generally perceive sniffling?
Sniffling is often seen as a polite attempt to maintain composure.
Are both sniffles and cries responses to emotions?
Yes, both can be responses to emotional stimuli, though they differ in intensity and expression.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
