smelling

verb

present participle of smell
1
as in sniffing
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
2
as in sensing
to have a vague awareness of I smell something fishy about this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sucking
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

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 smelling Workers inside the CalEPA headquarters reported smelling natural gas on some of the building’s upper floors. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026 This fascinating plant secretes a sweet-smelling nectar along the edges of its leaves to attract ants, spiders, crickets, and other bugs. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026 While most of us love a sweet-smelling lotion, fragrance can cause skin allergies in both babies and adults. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 July 2026 Each has a unique profile that loosely coordinates with some of LAFCO's most popular home scents -- but fear not, you won't be left smelling like a candle. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 14 July 2026 Some earwig species release a foul-smelling liquid as a defense when attacked. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2026 Even though modern machines and detergents have taken most of the workload out of the task, there are still some outdated laundry habits that may leave your clothes and linens looking dingy, smelling less than fresh, and feeling scratchy. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 Mild scurvy caused bleeding gums, tooth loss and foul-smelling breath. — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 The things that are important to me—taking care of myself, skincare, grooming, hygiene, smelling good, being clean—have always been high priorities. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelling
  1. sniffing
  2. sensing
  3. sucking
  4. inhaling
  5. feeling
  6. seeing
  7. hearing
  8. noticing
Verb
  • Ormund is introduced in the third-season premiere issuing orders at his army’s encampment and then, with a put-upon air, closely sniffing his pomander as if offended by the whole dreary business.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026
  • Both EagleShield and All Day West will perform inspections using bedbug-sniffing dogs after treatment is complete, Guillén wrote.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of sniffing
Verb
  • Researchers also aim to integrate the sensing-actuation loop directly into soft robots, enabling instinctive responses, while using its rich force signals to improve perception and interaction in complex environments.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
  • As The Verge reports, a bill that’s coming up for a vote this year would require fully autonomous vehicles to use both cameras and at least two other sensing technologies — in most cases, lidar and radar.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026
Definition of sensing
Verb
  • These much larger centers have begun sprouting up across the nation and making headlines for sucking up communities’ water, spiking power bills and causing other environmental issues.
    — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Blanket sucking is a self-soothing behavior thought to mimic nursing.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of sucking
Verb
  • Avoid inhaling the dust—even food-grade—as prolonged exposure can irritate the lungs, says Harlow-Ellis.
    — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 24 June 2026
  • Gonzalez worked to enforce a roadblock during the chemical plume without being informed about the dangers of inhaling the chemicals.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Definition of inhaling
Verb
  • But many ordinary Chinese have been feeling the pressure from a slowing economy and avoiding big-ticket purchases.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • Three years ago, Cat Cohen was lying in a hospital bed feeling despondent.
    — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026
Definition of feeling
Verb
  • True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Hernandez, 29, a contractor based in Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, undertook the $380 project with furniture from HomeGoods after seeing his pet spend most of her life tucked away in a little corner.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of seeing
Verb
  • Handing the survivor her jewelry and hearing her story a few days later gave Dondi and her team of volunteers a reassuring nudge to push forward with their work.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • During Murdaugh’s first status hearing on Monday, June 29, Judge Debra McCaslin did not rule on the DNA evidence, telling defense attorneys to clarify if the sample was viable.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of hearing
Verb
  • The classic button-up is a nondescript garment, so you’d be forgiven for not noticing, but women’s shirting has undergone a seismic shift.
    — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • Investigators identified Gavrilys and four other suspects after noticing a pattern in the burglaries.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of noticing

Browse Nearby Words

smellers
smelling
smelling (of)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelling. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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