nosing

verb

Definition of nosingnext
present participle of nose
1
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
2
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
3
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
  1. sniffing
  2. interfering
  3. dragging
  4. smelling
  5. messing
  6. crawling
  7. inhaling
  8. poking
Verb
  • When walking your dog, keep them from sniffing or chewing plants along trails and sidewalks.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Supervise pets outdoors, especially in unfamiliar areas, and keep dogs from sniffing or chewing plants on trails and sidewalks.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of sniffing
Verb
  • Infantino has denied interfering in the decision-making process and said FIFA’s judicial bodies act independently.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, some American fans who usually hate to see suits interfering in their sports are cheering FIFA on because the decision seems like a triumph of American exceptionalism.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026
Definition of interfering
Verb
  • The untethered AUVs hover above the seabed instead of dragging equipment across it, reducing sediment disturbance and limiting ecosystem disruption.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • Centre-back Chadi Riad flicks the outswinging corner across goal, with his team-mates’ runs dragging Haiti’s defence forward.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of dragging
Verb
  • Workers inside the CalEPA headquarters reported smelling natural gas on some of the building’s upper floors.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • This fascinating plant secretes a sweet-smelling nectar along the edges of its leaves to attract ants, spiders, crickets, and other bugs.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026
Definition of smelling
Verb
  • There was something a little therapeutic about messing it up.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 June 2026
  • No one can match her depth and passion to get vengeance on Krem of the Yellow Hills for messing with her family — a sentiment Cancers understand.
    — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of messing
Verb
  • With fervent editing, careful scene geography, and assured direction, the walk before the run can be tense enough to send viewers crawling out of their seats, willing the fugitive onscreen to get a move on already.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
  • Health inspectors observed one small roach-like insect crawling from the mop sink to under the nearby prep table.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
Definition of crawling
Verb
  • Health effects from inhaling wildfire smoke But the effects are sweeping, said Hayden, who has developed real-time mapping of mortality estimates from wildfire smoke.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 July 2026
  • In many cases, people contract the disease by inhaling tiny droplets of contaminated water.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of inhaling
Verb
  • Ant hills aren’t just ugly mounds poking through your beautiful green yard.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
  • The math moves without touching the money supply and poking inflation expectations.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 July 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

“Nosing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nosing. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nosing

Nglish: Translation of nosing for Spanish Speakers

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