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 splash
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
Shalwah Evans, People.com, 10 July 2025
In late 2010, two people complained to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, which handles grievances related to IFC projects, about water pollution, soil pollution and foul smells from the Santo Domingo facilities.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Health, 14 July 2025
Additionally, Luke now wears nose inserts with essential oils on them to mask the smells of overwhelming foods.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for smell
Verb
Exciting on-sale items include Samsonite luggage with more than 5,400 five-star ratings, popular Apple AirPods that might sell out before the event is over, a Yankee Candle find that smells like summer, and a Coach bag that’s more than $150 off.
—Shalwah Evans, People.com, 10 July 2025
In late 2010, two people complained to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, which handles grievances related to IFC projects, about water pollution, soil pollution and foul smells from the Santo Domingo facilities.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
Unpleasant smell: Beef tallow may have a mild, buttery, or beef-like smell.
—Health, 14 July 2025
Additionally, Luke now wears nose inserts with essential oils on them to mask the smells of overwhelming foods.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for smell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smell
Verb
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Toronto’s starting catcher regressed to normalcy, hitting .251 in 2023 and 2024, not sniffing double-digit homers or an above-average OPS.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
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After the participants sniffed the odor pens, the researchers showed them pictures that corresponded to each one.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to change in temperature.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
14 July 2025
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When a vital partner senses a workforce lacks confidence, brand damage is possible—a reputational liability.—
Tom Daly,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
That’s the fun thing for me, is there’s no reason the next one couldn’t suck back in and be a chamber piece again.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Sep. 2022
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Despite its appearance, the hummingbird’s tongue doesn't suck up nectar like a drinking straw.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
13 Jan. 2023
Verb
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The nervous systems of animals that swallowed or inhaled other hydraulic fluids were affected immediately with tremors, diarrhea, sweating, breathing difficulty, and sometimes several weeks later with weakness of the limbs, or paralysis.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
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These poisons can vaporize on hot days and be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or even swallowed by children playing on synthetic fields.—
Dr. Philip J. Landrigan,
New York Daily News,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
The Panthers are banking on a repeat performance, even if Jackson feels like a potential regression candidate.—
Mike Kaye
July 14,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
-
The picturesque port city embraces its past and readily shares it with visitors, though not in a way that feels like schoolwork.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
According to statements from camp officials and survivors, Eastland was last seen leading a group of girls from a cabin trying to get them to safety.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
8 July 2025
-
Chicago O’Hare, one of the world’s busiest airports, saw nearly 114,000 passengers, also a record.—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Testament, The Day After, Threads, and WarGames—which bridged Boomer and Gen X tastes by making computer hacking the trigger for a nuclear crisis—all debuted within 16 months of one another, signaling a wave of anxiety and a desire to process it collectively.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
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Here, visitors can taste matcha from the over-600-year-old Okunoyama Tea Garden, the last of the Muromachi-era Uji Shichimeien (Seven Tea Farms of Uji).—
Mark Lakin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Pankow's absence is noticed on set of the final season, Cline says.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
15 July 2025
-
Maybe a student is an amateur chef who notices that there are few affordable bakers in the area for parties and community events.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smell. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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