smelling salts
noun
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a usually scented aromatic preparation of ammonium carbonate and ammonia water used as a stimulant and restorative
Examples of smelling salts in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ban prohibited team personnel from providing or supplying smelling salts to players and coaches.
—
Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Ahead of the 2025 season, the league’s head, neck and spine committee recommended that teams end the longtime practice of providing smelling salts to players.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The Pitt invigorated audiences like a big sniff of smelling salts.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
So, what exactly are smelling salts—and why should parents be concerned?
—Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025
This was a brutal reality check; a sniff of the smelling salts Leeds have been working towards for the past two years.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
On Tuesday, the league sent a memo to its 32 clubs informing them they would no longer be allowed to administer players ammonia in any form during the 2025 season, including ammonia inhalants, which are more commonly known as smelling salts.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Micah Parsons Mock Trade Regardless of the smelling salts drama, Mayfield has turned his NFL career around with the Buccaneers.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, and every NFL player, doesn’t have to go into gamedays without smelling salts after all.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
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Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Ahead of the 2025 season, the league’s head, neck and spine committee recommended that teams end the longtime practice of providing smelling salts to players.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The Pitt invigorated audiences like a big sniff of smelling salts.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
So, what exactly are smelling salts—and why should parents be concerned?
—Kris Ann Valdez, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025
This was a brutal reality check; a sniff of the smelling salts Leeds have been working towards for the past two years.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
On Tuesday, the league sent a memo to its 32 clubs informing them they would no longer be allowed to administer players ammonia in any form during the 2025 season, including ammonia inhalants, which are more commonly known as smelling salts.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Micah Parsons Mock Trade Regardless of the smelling salts drama, Mayfield has turned his NFL career around with the Buccaneers.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, and every NFL player, doesn’t have to go into gamedays without smelling salts after all.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smelling salts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelling%20salts. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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