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
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
The ban only prohibits team employees from distributing smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants during pregame, halftime or games on the sideline or locker rooms.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The league sent a memo to teams on Tuesday explaining the decision to ban smelling salts and any other ammonia inhalant during pregame activities, games and halftime on the sideline or locker rooms.
—Josh Dubow, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025
The moths could rest among them before a jar of ammonium carbonate, also known as smelling salts or baker’s ammonia, hidden at the bottom of the bucket, killed them.
—Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Dex straps him to his kill table and uses his dad’s idea of smelling salts to wake Levi up.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 10 Jan. 2025
Detroit assistant Ron Rothstein waved smelling salts under Zeke’s nose.
—Rich Cohen, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023
Then there's the trend of inhaling smelling salts — popularized on TikTok by a company called Nose Slap — which can be poisonous when done incorrectly or over long periods of time, and the buzzy PRIME energy drink whose caffeine content is equivalent to roughly six Coca-Cola cans.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 22 July 2023
Clutch your bosom and reach for the smelling salts.
—Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023
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Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
The ban only prohibits team employees from distributing smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants during pregame, halftime or games on the sideline or locker rooms.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The league sent a memo to teams on Tuesday explaining the decision to ban smelling salts and any other ammonia inhalant during pregame activities, games and halftime on the sideline or locker rooms.
—Josh Dubow, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025
The moths could rest among them before a jar of ammonium carbonate, also known as smelling salts or baker’s ammonia, hidden at the bottom of the bucket, killed them.
—Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Dex straps him to his kill table and uses his dad’s idea of smelling salts to wake Levi up.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 10 Jan. 2025
Detroit assistant Ron Rothstein waved smelling salts under Zeke’s nose.
—Rich Cohen, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023
Then there's the trend of inhaling smelling salts — popularized on TikTok by a company called Nose Slap — which can be poisonous when done incorrectly or over long periods of time, and the buzzy PRIME energy drink whose caffeine content is equivalent to roughly six Coca-Cola cans.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 22 July 2023
Clutch your bosom and reach for the smelling salts.
—Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Smelling salts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelling%20salts. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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