as in scent
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose
we took a good sniff of the sauce, trying to guess its ingredients
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Recent Examples of sniff
Briauna Brown, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Inside the stables, the family’s other two horses greeted Troy with affectionate sniffs, snuggles and neighs.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
The Thunder sniffed their shot as the first team to return to consecutive finals since Kerr’s Warriors.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Noun
Tarrant County Sheriff's Office When K-9 Racket and his handler arrived at the scene, Racket performed a free air sniff of the vehicle and signaled a positive alert to the deputies for the presence of drugs.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Inside the stables, the family’s other two horses greeted Troy with affectionate sniffs, snuggles and neighs.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
Deputies once again conducted a traffic stop, and a police dog sniffed out illicit substances.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
The Thunder sniffed their shot as the first team to return to consecutive finals since Kerr’s Warriors.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
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According to the brand, Dew & Light's popularity in Korea and Japan reflects a broader appreciation for scents that feel clean, delicate, and effortless—fragrances that complement your presence instead of announcing it.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
21 June 2026
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Use warm air and UV rays outside to naturally disinfect fabrics, make white clothes brighter, and get rid of musty odors, all while leaving behind a unique scent from fresh air that can’t be replicated in the dryer.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
My audience can smell something disingenuous pretty quick.—
Holly Gleason,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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Consumers often rely on appearance and smell other than expiry dates to judge whether products are still safe to eat, despite the limitations of those methods.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Bold aromas of black cherry, espresso bean, and nutmeg give way to sublime flavors of cassis, charcuterie, and freshly ground nutmeg wrapped in a sheath of feathery tannins.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
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For anyone who has ever been stopped in their tracks by a familiar aroma, here’s what scientists and physicians say is actually happening and why scent deserves more credit as a memory tool than most people give it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The workers inhale these particles, and many develop a severe and rapidly progressive form of silicosis.—
David Michaels,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
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The fish will inhale the lure and clamp down hard.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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