smack of
phrasal verb
smacked of; smacking of; smacks of
: to seem to contain or involve (something unpleasant)
That suggestion smacks of hypocrisy.
Examples of smack of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In short, these actions smack of intimidation more than protection.
—
Elizabeth Goitein, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
The scenario inevitably smacks of cliché, but the tough new drama directed by Vincent Grashaw manages to overcome its familiarity thanks to a smart script by Zach Montague, the relatively unusual setting of a Native American reservation, and a superlative performance by Lou Diamond Phillips.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025
This smacks of fake tough guy nonsense.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
More broadly, this instinctive punching left at anything that smacks of gender, or academics, or whatever else the center is scared of, is never about language.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
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Elizabeth Goitein, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
The scenario inevitably smacks of cliché, but the tough new drama directed by Vincent Grashaw manages to overcome its familiarity thanks to a smart script by Zach Montague, the relatively unusual setting of a Native American reservation, and a superlative performance by Lou Diamond Phillips.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025
This smacks of fake tough guy nonsense.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
More broadly, this instinctive punching left at anything that smacks of gender, or academics, or whatever else the center is scared of, is never about language.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smack of
Cite this Entry
“Smack of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smack%20of. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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