sniffed; sniffing; sniffs
1
a
: to inhale through the nose especially for smelling
sniffed at the flowers
b
: to take air into the nose in short audible breaths
She sniffed and wiped her nose.
2
: to show or express disdain or scorn
1
2
: to utter contemptuously
3
: to recognize or detect (something) by or as if by smelling
—usually used with out
sniff out trouble
Examples of sniff in a Sentence
Verb
She sniffed and wiped her nose with a tissue.
She put perfume on her wrist and sniffed it.
The dog sniffed the carpet.
He held the flower up to his nose and sniffed.
“I guess you don't need my help,” she sniffed.
Noun
She said that she felt fine, but her sniffs and coughs told a different story.
“I refuse to answer that question,” she said with a sniff.
He wanted to avoid the slightest sniff of a scandal.
There was still a sniff of hope left for the team.
Recent Examples on the Web
Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Still, the Mariners had other Hall of Fame caliber talents in the 2000s and 2010s like the aforementioned Ichiro, Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre and Robinson Cano, and still couldn't even sniff an AL pennant, let alone a World Series.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Of those four clubs, only the Canadiens have had a sniff of the playoffs the past five seasons, as their front offices trusted what had often been a painful process of trying to climb back up the standings.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
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Verb
Because the New York Post is reporting the world’s richest man was recently spotted sniffing around one of Miami Beach’s most elite streets, North Bay Road, at the site of an under-construction mega-mansion.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Still, the Mariners had other Hall of Fame caliber talents in the 2000s and 2010s like the aforementioned Ichiro, Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre and Robinson Cano, and still couldn't even sniff an AL pennant, let alone a World Series.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Noun
Here's what to look—and sniff—for.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Of those four clubs, only the Canadiens have had a sniff of the playoffs the past five seasons, as their front offices trusted what had often been a painful process of trying to climb back up the standings.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sniff. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sniff
1 of 2 verb1
: to draw air into the nose in short breaths loud enough to be heard
sniffed at the cheese
2
: to show or express scorn
sniffed at simple jobs
3
: to smell or inhale by taking short breaths
sniff perfume
4
: to detect by or as if by smelling
sniff out trouble
sniffer
noun
sniff
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or sound of sniffing
2
: an odor or amount sniffed
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