variants
or chiefly British smelt
1
2
as in felt
to have a vague awareness of
I smell something fishy about this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 smelled
My grandma always slept with curlers in her hair to have perfect spirals the next day, and my mom’s jet-black hair was always long, glossy, and smelled amazing.
—
Natasha López, Refinery29, 10 Sep. 2025
The vape smoke smelled like unicorn farts.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
With no cell service, my two spoiled house pets immediately rebranded themselves as wild animals—sniffing, digging, howling at the moon, and rolling in whatever smelled the worst.
—The Editors, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
Fresh waffle cones are made in-house and can be smelled long before entering, and pair with 18 flavors of ice cream.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
The Staten Island Expressway rumbled not far away; strip malls were visible to the east, and equipment that measures landfill gas poked through the ground at regular intervals—the trash beneath the park is still decomposing—and yet the air smelled sweet.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Guerlain used ethyl vanillin — three times more potent than natural vanilla — to create a warm, sensual foundation never smelled before.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2025
Both Costco and Publix smelled like a sweaty gym in the past month.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
While conducting an inventory of the vehicle, the officer smelled marijuana, which gave him probable cause to search the vehicle further, according to the release.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2025
Natasha López, Refinery29, 10 Sep. 2025
The vape smoke smelled like unicorn farts.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
With no cell service, my two spoiled house pets immediately rebranded themselves as wild animals—sniffing, digging, howling at the moon, and rolling in whatever smelled the worst.
—The Editors, Outside, 26 Aug. 2025
Fresh waffle cones are made in-house and can be smelled long before entering, and pair with 18 flavors of ice cream.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
The Staten Island Expressway rumbled not far away; strip malls were visible to the east, and equipment that measures landfill gas poked through the ground at regular intervals—the trash beneath the park is still decomposing—and yet the air smelled sweet.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Guerlain used ethyl vanillin — three times more potent than natural vanilla — to create a warm, sensual foundation never smelled before.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2025
Both Costco and Publix smelled like a sweaty gym in the past month.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
While conducting an inventory of the vehicle, the officer smelled marijuana, which gave him probable cause to search the vehicle further, according to the release.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelled
Verb
-
Missouri State, which was an FCS team before this season, squeaked out a field goal in its first drive of the game and had the confidence to attempt a reverse flea flicker on its next possession, but USC’s defense sniffed out the play and pushed the Bears back 11 yards.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Even the smallest tendencies get sniffed out quickly.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
By the time the impeachment trial commenced, the top-down pressure from prominent, national Republicans could be seen and felt.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Time felt different there—slower, more deliberate.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This new trailer gives a sense of the franchise's history, opening with footage of the young Kevin Flynn playing the 1982 version of TRON at his arcade before being sucked into the game world's grid.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Think about the inflationary era of 2022 — prices were high and rising faster than most Americans had ever experienced, which, to borrow a technical term, sucked.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream when inhaled, which can cause inflammation and neurological damage.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Concern about inhaled anesthesia impacting brain development is not totally unfounded, says Ji-Hyun Lee, MD, PhD, co-author of the new study published in Anesthesiology.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dudek sensed the growing tension.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
In the second half, veteran center Garrett Bradbury sensed the Patriots offense stalling from its own listlessness.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The trees were cut down, sawed in half, hollowed out and tied back together for the musicians to use.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Fanatics shared the moment Tennessee Titans first overall pick, quarterback Cam Ward, saw Brady pop up on the screen to give him some wise words.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
What could be more authentically Eighties than a high-school girl who’s never tasted anything tripper than root beer going onstage to fake her way through a John Lennon acid freakout with the Rocket Man and the Piano Man?—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Rulber de la Torre is opening a new restaurant in Prairie Village, but Mexican food fans may have already tasted his cuisine.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But in recent years, psychologists, sociologists and concerned parents alike have noticed a growing number of young adults who seem caught in this adolescent quicksand — unable or unwilling to take the next step into adulthood.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
People in neighborhood are afraid, candidates say The Republican candidate seeking Hortman’s seat, real estate agent Ruth Bittner, noticed early in her campaign that people in the neighborhood where Hortman was killed seemed afraid to open their doors.—
Mark Vancleave,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelled. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share