Synonyms of smelled

smelled

verb

variants or chiefly British smelt

past tense of smell

1

as in sniffed

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

• sniffed
• inhaled
• breathed
• scented
• whiffed
• snuffed
• drank (in)
• nosed
• snorted
• respired
• savored
• snuffled

2

as in sensed

to have a vague awareness of

I smell something fishy about this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sensed
• felt
• saw
• heard
• noticed
• tasted
• perceived
• scented
• realized
• expected
• looked (at)
• discovered
• noted
• remarked
• spied
• learned
• anticipated
• witnessed
• beheld
• observed
• viewed
• discerned
• suspected
• sighted
• ascertained
• regarded
• eyed
• guessed
• found out
• supposed
• espied
• distinguished
• foresaw
• assumed
• caught on (to)
• presumed
• descried
• surmised
• speculated
• divined
• conjectured
• foreknew

3

as in sucked

to be objectionable or unsatisfactory

that movie smells—I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sucked
• bit
• stank

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ruled
• rocked

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smelled

On the contrary, the thought of becoming an exotic foreigner—who smelled of the sea and cited Southern temperament as grounds for her imbalances—thrilled me. — Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2026

The petition states the officer smelled fresh cannabis and saw small cigars in the car. — Susan Sarkauskas, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

On its tour of Tegel Prison in Berlin, the New York group passed through a greenhouse that smelled like fresh dirt and lemon basil. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 11 Nov. 2026

Arresting officers noted that Gonzalez smelled strongly of alcohol, slurred his speech, and showed signs of head injuries sustained during the fight. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

But after an error allowed Junior Caminero to reach base to start the frame, the Rays finally smelled some life. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

The L'Occitane Jasmine & Bergamot products smelled good and did the job. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

For Dylan Feierabend, there are few things more life-affirming than fishing for redtail surfperch and smelt at Centerville Beach in rural Humboldt County. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Rather than projecting for others, these more subtle scents are meant to be smelled only by you and others who are lucky enough to get close. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Sep. 2026