smell 1 of 2

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as in to sniff
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose we smelled the aroma of freshly baked cookies as soon as we walked in the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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as in to suck
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory that movie smells—I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smell

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noun

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun smell contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of smell are aroma, odor, and scent. While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

When is it sensible to use aroma instead of smell?

The meanings of aroma and smell largely overlap; however, aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

How are the words odor and smell related?

Odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

When could scent be used to replace smell?

Although the words scent and smell have much in common, scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of smell
Verb
From one of our favorite Bath & Body Works holiday scents to a nostalgic fragrance that screams fall and winter, here are our top picks for the best-smelling body washes to rinse off with this season. Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025 The bundle offers a simple three-step ritual of cleanse, moisturize and deodorize to smell fresh and clean. Caitlyn Martyn May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
That, to Payton, did not pass the smell test. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025 Most importantly, they’re loaded up with the most festive, decadent fragrances—ones that’ll transport you right to Christmas day with the smell of minty candy canes, woody pine trees, celebratory bubbly, and more. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for smell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smell
Verb
  • But the little dog isn’t tempted to even sniff it.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • His boss seems unusually chill with the deception, mostly because this lad might be helpful for sniffing out other moles and double agents in their field.
    Vulture Editors, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Not only does Sarr appear not to sense Duren approaching, but Duren, who had at least a 25-pound weight advantage, dislodges Sarr from his position as the ball begins to descend.
    Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike traditional security systems that treat these domains separately, ARGUS merges them, giving it the ability to sense, analyze, and respond to breaches across networks and environments simultaneously.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With water levels low, getting liquid past the filters felt like sucking mud.
    Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Governments, on the other hand, can’t be the market, setting prices, or sucking the oxygen out of enterprise with excessive regulation.
    Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Gently shake the bag to distribute the scent over all the mix.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • One of the most challenging aspects of dealing with these beetles is that the feeding pests cause the affected plant to produce a volatile aromatic scent, which quickly attracts other beetles to the feast.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • From a bleak job hunt upon her arrival in 2016 to undergoing treatment for her second bout with breast cancer during the uncertainty and fear of COVID, Davis recalls her journey through raw vulnerability and splashes of humor.
    Essence, Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
  • While the $20 endless shrimp deal made quite a splash with customers, the company suffered millions in operating losses.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Brad was firmly outside the mansion’s mysterious aura of cool during that now 50-year-old scene, so Bostwick just hangs out with other fans if he gets lost.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
  • But Picardo developed a comprehensive strategy and mission statement to attract more consumers and brand partners, while maintaining Holts’ luxury aura and reinforcing its social values.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Simply inhaling for four counts and exhaling for four counts brings oxygen to your muscles, reducing the emotion's intensity and relaxing the body.
    Juli Fraga, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Medicines needing to be inhaled or smoked are prohibited unless in a prescribed inhaler.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Wentland attended both of Alverno’s information sessions about the sale but left feeling her concerns weren’t addressed.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There’s not many teams that can put four guys that don’t start into the game [on the offensive line] and feel confident about going and winning a game, especially on the road.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smell. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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