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
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers, 34, has been taking a whiff of smelling salts for the past eight seasons as part of his process before field-goal attempts.
—
Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2026
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
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Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Smelling salts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelling%20salts. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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