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
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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
Criticizing those who are actually out there touching it, smelling it, handling it, doing the work — that’s just absolutely shameful.
—
Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
The lawsuits filed on Tuesday accuse Nicor Gas and the building's management company of failing to properly respond after residents reported smelling natural gas hours before the explosion.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The entire tourism industry takes a hit when its postcard beaches are piled high with foul-smelling seaweed.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
When Squeeze showed his tongue, that was the reptile’s way of smelling beings around him.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Strong-smelling foods like fish, onions, and kimchi are worth keeping at a distance.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
After allegedly smelling marijuana, FHP said, officers searched the vehicle and found a bag with 31 oxycodone tablets and almost $75,000 in cash.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Residents are not only smelling sewage every day, there is also a high probability that the odors carry toxins that will have long-term health effects.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Other carriers, smelling blood, had been circling for nearly a year if not longer, and within hours of the airline's collapse were scrambling to both fly ticketed Spirit customers and add to their schedules in the absence left by Spirit's yellow planes.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
The lawsuits filed on Tuesday accuse Nicor Gas and the building's management company of failing to properly respond after residents reported smelling natural gas hours before the explosion.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The entire tourism industry takes a hit when its postcard beaches are piled high with foul-smelling seaweed.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
When Squeeze showed his tongue, that was the reptile’s way of smelling beings around him.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Strong-smelling foods like fish, onions, and kimchi are worth keeping at a distance.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
After allegedly smelling marijuana, FHP said, officers searched the vehicle and found a bag with 31 oxycodone tablets and almost $75,000 in cash.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Residents are not only smelling sewage every day, there is also a high probability that the odors carry toxins that will have long-term health effects.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Other carriers, smelling blood, had been circling for nearly a year if not longer, and within hours of the airline's collapse were scrambling to both fly ticketed Spirit customers and add to their schedules in the absence left by Spirit's yellow planes.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelling
Verb
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There’s a big fight with Dogknott and Sheline who, in-between sniffing one another’s butts, start massacring the test audience.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
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Go on fungi-finding forays with truffle-sniffing dogs at the Oregon Truffle Festival, or attend epicurean bashes like Alt Wine Fest, Queer Wine Fest, AAPI Food & Wine Festival, and the International Pinot Noir Celebration.—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Verb
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As police — sensing a greater public threat — searched for the pair, calls came in reporting shootings at the mosque.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2026
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The boy, sensing something suspicious, ran off.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2026
Verb
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These images do not romanticize the West as much as document how difficult, life-sucking and under-appreciated this job can be.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
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Check out this play from Game 4 of the Knicks’ soul-sucking sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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People typically become infected with the virus by inhaling microscopic particles from these rodents' urine, feces or saliva, according to Stanford Health.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
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Social media trends are fueling a dangerous form of substance use among teenagers in the United States involving common household and commercial products, including inhaling nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
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My long, cold period of feeling relegated as a writer was over.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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For many families, barriers to care stem not only from transportation or cost, but from feeling misunderstood, unseen, or unable to communicate comfortably with providers.—
Maria Bledsoe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Andy Mitten recently re-completed ‘the 92’ — that is seeing a game at all the current football grounds in England’s top four tiers.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Trump had expressed optimism to the Washington Examiner about seeing the bill on his desk this week.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
20 May 2026
Verb
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What’s clear in hearing Tuch talk is that the decision isn’t going to be solely about money.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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The 911 caller also reported hearing gunshots, leading to a large police response out of caution.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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In practice, this means noticing the moment that your brain begins replaying an embarrassing scene and deliberately refusing to elaborate on it further.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
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How the Slurpee became an American staple The Slurpee traces its roots back to the 1960s, when businessman Omar Knedlik developed a machine that partially froze soft drinks after noticing customers enjoyed semi-frozen sodas at his Dairy Queen franchise in Kansas.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelling. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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