1
2
as in to sense
to have a vague awareness of
I smell something fishy about this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in scent
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose
the smell of vanilla is supposed to be very soothing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in hint
a very small amount
the pie has barely a smell of ginger, but lots of cinnamon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aura
a special quality or impression associated with something
a law firm with a mahogany-lined boardroom that has the discernible smell of money and power
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of smell
Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
The whole team emphasizes the importance of finding partnerships that are authentic, pointing out that fans and viewers would quickly smell if an artist and content, or an artist and a brand, were forced together for pure financial considerations.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Le Teendezvous was a converted horse stable — dim lights, wooden beams, and a smell that said livestock once lived here.
—Henry Selick, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smell
Verb
Abandoned Mansion smells like history and curiosity intertwined, the scent of someone worth unraveling.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
The whole team emphasizes the importance of finding partnerships that are authentic, pointing out that fans and viewers would quickly smell if an artist and content, or an artist and a brand, were forced together for pure financial considerations.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
The season transforms the city’s historic streets into something out of a snow globe—brick row houses dusted in white, gas lamps flickering through the early dusk, and the smell of soul-warming seafood chowder drifting from restaurants in the Seaport area.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Le Teendezvous was a converted horse stable — dim lights, wooden beams, and a smell that said livestock once lived here.
—Henry Selick, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smell
Verb
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Several reports over the last few weeks had the Broncos sniffing around at offensive additions, primarily at wide receiver.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Ovechkin puck would likely garner a pretty penny, if not now, then sometime in the future, as no other active NHL player is sniffing around 700 career goals.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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One senses enormous momentum already, with the film a full-fledged phenomenon in its home country.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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Smoke alarms have detectors that sense small particles in the air, and the alarm triggers when a certain amount of particles is reached.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But bubbly, unstrategic, free-spirited Tallulah also has a tendency to suck up all the oxygen in a city, relegating Maia to the role of sidekick.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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James Guimaraes was on mile seven of his last training run for the New York City Marathon when he got sucked into a bidding war.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The scent of hay recalls a memory of summer camp.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The scent of smoke and the rhythm of song fill what silence the storm left behind.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Players can provide hints or hold fast but will end up pissing the duo off either way.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
-
This burgundy option brings a hint of holiday cheer while looking sophisticated.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Despite Olsen’s custom Miu Miu look evoking a red-carpet-ready aura, the ruffled motif of the sleeves harkened back to the Italian brand’s most recent collection.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
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Per AccuWeather, experts also recommend that aura-watchers allow their eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness and avoid looking at bright light sources, such as the moon or phone screens.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Jet fuels and other petroleum products are refined from crude oil, and contain chemicals that are toxic to humans when inhaled.—
Connor Giffin,
Louisville Courier Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
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Sprays are easy to apply to skin or clothing but must be used with caution as they can also be inhaled.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And among the less conversationally direct, the topic often seems to lurk on the fringes as locals in other countries try to more delicately approach politics and discern how US travelers feel about what’s going on at home.—
Terry Ward,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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Specific details of conversations remain unclear, but the meeting suggests that Comcast feels that there is still a path forward for a deal, in spite of concerns — aired in the press — about the likelihood of regulatory troubles in the US.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smell. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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