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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smelling
Tough and compact, standing at 4 feet tall, these gorgeous roses ensure a sweet-smelling and visually appealing presence.
—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
Dust mites and humidity can also lead to a musty-smelling mattress.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
But as the fire continued, Monterey Park residents reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Social media has turned budget-friendly body mists and sprays into trending picks, proving that smelling good doesn’t have to mean spending big.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Gourmand scents stay strong on comfort and nostalgia Gourmand fragrances the dessert-leaning, edible-smelling category aren’t slowing down.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Spritzing perfume has always been about smelling good.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Bears aren't just smelling your hot dogs and hamburgers.
—
Amber Harding Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Tasks can include smelling dangerously high or low glucose levels, smelling mood swings, anxiety and depression, smelling an impending seizure and many other tasks.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
Dust mites and humidity can also lead to a musty-smelling mattress.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
But as the fire continued, Monterey Park residents reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Social media has turned budget-friendly body mists and sprays into trending picks, proving that smelling good doesn’t have to mean spending big.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Gourmand scents stay strong on comfort and nostalgia Gourmand fragrances the dessert-leaning, edible-smelling category aren’t slowing down.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Spritzing perfume has always been about smelling good.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Bears aren't just smelling your hot dogs and hamburgers.
—
Amber Harding Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Tasks can include smelling dangerously high or low glucose levels, smelling mood swings, anxiety and depression, smelling an impending seizure and many other tasks.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelling
Verb
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Musk and SpaceX have a true nose for money, including sniffing out government infusions and contracts.
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The streamer on June 8 dropped an adorable photo of the real Great Dane puppy, as well as a brief teaser video that shows Scooby-Doo sniffing around in the woods before being picked up by Shaggy.
Verb
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The rash was much milder in mice bred with defective itch-sensing nerve cells.
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From threat detection to global navigation, sensing biomarkers to computing at unimaginable speeds, the quantum era holds the promise that our world will not look the same anymore.
Verb
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Two cherry pickers, with seven workers dressed in full blue protective gear, including ventilation masks, were wielding the kind of vacuum machines designed for asbestos management, sucking the nests from branches roughly 20 meters (65 feet) off the ground.
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National Park Service workers in waders were sucking up the dead algae strewed along the bottom Wednesday.
Verb
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Typically, hantavirus spreads by inhaling particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of wild rodents.
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Take 30 to 40 deep cyclical breaths, inhaling fully into the belly and chest, exhaling without force.
Verb
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The relaxed silhouette has the same easygoing feel, and the floral print adds personality without feeling unwearable.
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The bias cut drapes smoothly, and the mocha dot print (my favorite option) adds a subtle statement without feeling too loud.
Verb
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The journey in seeing a friend’s city anew becomes another way of seeing home.
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On June 9, witnesses reported seeing a man start a small brush fire in a field behind the Wal-Mart on Camino Arroyo, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Verb
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On Election Day, Schlossberg was campaigning out in the rain despite the concerning polls, hearing stories from passersby about their Kennedy encounters over the years and taking selfies with starstruck supporters.
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Some travel from other parts of Minnesota after hearing about the fundraiser through friends or social media.
Verb
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Royd and Maribel Lemus, co-owners of Royd’s at Gateway Farms and Nursery, expanded their farm to offer home-style Cuban food, juices, a mechanical bull, petting zoos, and gathering a space after noticing people were eager to spend time outside after the pandemic.
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Every moment of noticing interrupts the automatic stream of thinking and reconnects you with the present moment.
Cite this Entry
“Smelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelling. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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