Synonyms of smells

smells 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of smell

1

as in sniffs

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

• sniffs
• inhales
• scents
• whiffs
• noses
• snuffs
• breathes
• drinks (in)
• snorts
• respires
• savors
• snuffles

2

as in senses

to have a vague awareness of

I smell something fishy about this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• senses
• feels
• sees
• notices
• tastes
• perceives
• hears
• scents
• sights
• expects
• looks (at)
• realizes
• eyes
• notes
• anticipates
• witnesses
• discovers
• remarks
• learns
• beholds
• discerns
• views
• suspects
• distinguishes
• observes
• foresees
• finds out
• spies
• regards
• espies
• supposes
• descries
• presumes
• guesses
• assumes
• ascertains
• speculates
• catches on (to)
• divines
• surmises
• foreknows
• conjectures

3

as in sucks

to be objectionable or unsatisfactory

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sucks
• bites
• stinks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rocks
• rules

smells

2 of 2

noun

plural of smell

1

as in scents

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

• scents
• aromas
• stenches
• sniffs
• odors
• fragrances
• perfumes
• whiffs
• savors
• stinks
• spices
• redolences
• reeks
• fragrancies
• malodors
• attars
• musks
• bouquets
• tangs
• incenses
• funks
• aromaticities
• fetors
• rancidities
• ambrosias

2

as in splashes

a very small amount

the pie has barely a smell of ginger, but lots of cinnamon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• splashes
• specks
• hints
• touches
• glimmers
• sprinklings
• little
• licks
• bits
• traces
• particles
• sparks
• shadows
• shades
• dabs
• smacks
• bites
• flecks
• handfuls
• spatters
• rays
• ounces
• crumbs
• suspicions
• peanuts
• drams
• streaks
• tastes
• shreds
• nips
• mites
• spots
• strains
• drops
• slivers
• soupçons
• scruples
• driblets
• pinches
• molecules
• smidgens
• skoshes
• snaps
• dashes
• scintillas
• parts
• drops in the bucket
• grains
• aces
• vestiges
• atoms
• syllables
• patches
• granules
• doses
• fragments
• scraps
• nibbles
• motes
• portions
• dots
• semblances
• jots
• minims
• sections
• morsels
• minima
• flyspecks
• hoots
• shivers
• nubbins
• whits
• chips
• modicums
• flakes
• smatterings
• splinters
• iotas
• clippings
• scatterings
• shards
• shavings
• tittles
• smatters
• parings
• tatters
• smithereens
• shots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loads
• piles
• quantities
• mountains
• lots
• masses
• barrels
• stacks
• heaps
• deals
• bushels
• bundles
• messes
• buckets
• gobs
• boatloads
• abundances
• fistfuls
• wads
• reams
• rafts
• scads
• oodles
• pecks
• volumes
• much
• wealths
• lashings
• profusions
• excesses
• potfuls
• surpluses
• overflows
• plenties
• passels
• embarrassments
• superfluities
• slabs
• chunks
• bonanzas
• lumps
• overmuch
• hunks
• overages
• surfeits
• oversupplies
• superabundances
• overabundances
• overkills

3

as in auras

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

• auras
• aromas
• feels
• atmospheres
• feelings
• flavors
• senses
• odors
• airs
• moods
• vibrations
• climates
• ambiences
• tempers
• notes
• halos
• patinas
• karmas
• characteristics
• spirits
• romances
• nimbi
• sensations
• pictures
• images
• notions
• attributes
• tones
• traits
• properties
• colors
• mystiques
• aureoles
• illusions
• peculiarities
• suggestions
• overtones
• genius locis
• characters
• marks
• semblances

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smells

Verb

On the upside, my compost bin now smells like pumpkin spice rot. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026

But what if sunlight, instead of making the problem worse, could do the opposite and help get rid of those smells? — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026

Zhang and his colleagues theorize that this reaction might help plants avoid pathogens, similar to the way unpleasant smells help animals steer clear of rotten food. — Joanna Thompson, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2026

That’s reflected in the clips shown to the audience, which, unlike the previous films, really gives the sense that this place smells. — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026

The candle smells of cereal, milk and lemon and is intended to recall the days of watching Saturday morning cartoons and summer. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026

For example, one version of the chemical carvone smells like mint, while the other has a whiff of caraway, a spice often used in rye bread. — Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026

The attorneys said detainees have complained about going three to seven hours without water, and about having access only to tap water that tastes like metal and smells like fish. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Check kitchens, sinks, walls, and hidden spaces for droppings, gnaw marks, nest material, smells, and scratching sounds. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

The breakthrough underpins modern drug development, because mirror-image versions of the same molecule can behave differently in the body — and can even produce different smells. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

As levels drop, the body becomes less efficient at cooling itself, triggering more frequent hot flashes and sweating that mixes with skin bacteria to produce stronger or unfamiliar smells. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Multisensory journeys have been developed to immerse clients in the rituals, music and smells inspired by the lifestyles of these destinations. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

In June, a fire east of downtown in a massive frozen-food warehouse left neighbors to endure weeks of foul smells and frustration. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

The all-in-one dock cleans the spinning dual mops with hot water, dries them with warm air to prevent musty smells, and automatically drains and refills the water tank. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Exhaust fumes mimic the smells of decaying organic matter, tricking lovebugs looking for nesting grounds. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

Beware of bad smells Upon entering a rental, Jones will get a good whiff of the place. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2026

The other special effects, like the spurts of air that shoot out of the headrests or the smells that waft throughout the theater, were few and far between during this screening. — Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026