NOSING Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

nosing

verb

Definition of nosing

present participle of nose

as in sniffing

to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose could nose the garbage from across the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in interfering

to interest oneself in what is not one's concern a neighbor who likes to nose around in everyone else's business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dragging

to move slowly the line to get tickets is just nosing, so we are going to be here for a while

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nosing

Verb

Though Leighton appears in front of their home at the end of the episode, the Dessens don’t realize that the MacNamara of their analog world has been sniffing around, too.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
But when the Orcs come sniffing, those same qualities transform him from fun-loving hobbit to fierce protector.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of sniffing

Verb

By preventing excess slack and eliminating interfering contours, the PBU minimizes collision risks across complex movement paths.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
Under the law, federal officers are prohibited from interfering in elections.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of interfering

Verb

Ted, naturally, advises everyone to stay positive, but the outlook isn’t great, and it’s not helped by the team doctor dragging his feet about seeing the Greyhounds star, which Keeley immediately clocks as sexism.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
This movement of the fabric can shorten a hemline and secure a train so someone can easily move about without tripping or having extra fabric dragging on the ground.

— Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of dragging

Verb

Redness, open sores, discharge, foul-smelling ears, lumps or recurring skin issues all warrant a vet visit, not a grooming session.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026
Removing a small number of the oldest stems will let the plant continue to grow in a balanced way, and can help your sweet-smelling vines resist winter wind.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of smelling

Verb

Shopping is also often easier to do manually, largely because of restrictions that prevent bots from crawling websites.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
While Macbeth is constantly crawling out of his skin, Kelsey sings the role with a relaxed confidence that is a pleasure to listen to, if dramatically disorienting.

— Justin Davidson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of crawling

Verb

Tottenham attempted to offload Bissouma last summer, and the club later initiated another internal investigation after an image leaked of Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon again.

— Colin Millar, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
And viral trends like the cinnamon challenge can cause potential injury by accidentally inhaling the powder.

— Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of inhaling

Verb

One of the most iconic fall looks is a pair of tall boots with a knit sock poking over the top.

— Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Even Watford’s mascot got involved, standing behind one of the goalposts ahead of the game and poking its head out with a binocular gesture.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of poking

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

nosiness

nosing

nosing out

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nosing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nosing. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nosing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pundit

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes