Synonyms of smell

smell 1 of 3

verb

1

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

• sniff
• inhale
• scent
• whiff
• snuff
• nose
• breathe
• drink (in)
• savour
• respire
• snort
• savor
• snuffle

2

as in to sense

to have a vague awareness of

I smell something fishy about this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sense
• feel
• see
• taste
• notice
• hear
• perceive
• scent
• sight
• realize
• expect
• look (at)
• anticipate
• note
• eye
• learn
• discover
• discern
• view
• find out
• witness
• remark
• divine
• behold
• suspect
• distinguish
• ascertain
• foresee
• guess
• observe
• spy
• suppose
• espy
• regard
• descry
• presume
• catch on (to)
• assume
• speculate
• surmise
• foreknow
• conjecture

3

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

• suck
• bite
• stink

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rule
• rock

smell

2 of 3

noun (1)

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

• scent
• aroma
• stench
• sniff
• fragrance
• odor
• redolence
• whiff
• perfume
• fragrancy
• savour
• stink
• attar
• otto
• rankness
• malodor
• musk
• rancidity
• bouquet
• fetor
• reek
• funk
• tang
• spice
• lusciousness
• savor
• foulness
• incense
• ambrosia
• aromaticity
• savoriness
• fetidness
• gaminess
• acridness
• odorousness
• noisomeness
• odoriferousness

2

as in splash

a very small amount

the pie has barely a smell of ginger, but lots of cinnamon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• splash
• hint
• glimmer
• sprinkling
• touch
• shred
• speck
• lick
• bit
• little
• trace
• tad
• particle
• spark
• dab
• handful
• suspicion
• spatter
• taste
• ounce
• ray
• smack
• crumb
• peanuts
• dram
• streak
• smidgen
• pinch
• sliver
• shade
• scintilla
• scruple
• mite
• bite
• smidgeon
• spot
• strain
• nip
• fleck
• dash
• smidge
• smidgin
• soupçon
• minimum
• shadow
• drop in the bucket
• ace
• drop
• dose
• portion
• grain
• molecule
• skosh
• driblet
• whit
• snap
• patch
• semblance
• syllable
• vestige
• modicum
• atom
• nibble
• part
• mote
• iota
• jot
• granule
• dot
• morsel
• fragment
• section
• scrap
• hoot
• minim
• scattering
• shiver
• tittle
• smattering
• flake
• splinter
• flyspeck
• shaving
• clipping
• nubbin
• chip
• shard
• tatter
• smatter
• paring
• smithereens
• shot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quantity
• pile
• abundance
• mess
• deal
• loads
• wealth
• stack
• lot
• mountain
• mass
• plenty
• barrel
• bucket
• profusion
• heaps
• bundle
• gobs
• bushel
• wad
• boatload
• volume
• raft
• peck
• fistful
• oodles
• scads
• reams
• lashings
• surplus
• excess
• passel
• potful
• much
• embarrassment
• overflow
• lashins
• overabundance
• oversupply
• surfeit
• superfluity
• superabundance
• slab
• bonanza
• overkill
• lump
• overmuch
• chunk
• hunk
• overage

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

• aura
• aroma
• atmosphere
• air
• odor
• feel
• flavor
• sense
• ambiance
• feeling
• ambience
• mood
• climate
• patina
• halo
• karma
• temper
• nimbus
• vibration(s)
• note
• romance
• mystique
• sensation
• characteristic
• image
• aureole
• spirit
• aureola
• property
• illusion
• trait
• attribute
• tone
• peculiarity
• notion
• semblance
• suggestion
• genius loci
• color
• picture
• overtone
• character
• mark

smeller

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in nose

the part of the face bearing the nostrils and nasal cavity

a sensitive smeller is just as important as a fine palate when evaluating wine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nose
• snout
• proboscis
• schnozz
• honker
• schnozzle
• schnoz
• conk
• nozzle
• beak
• snoot
• neb
• pug
• pugnose