smelled

variants or chiefly British smelt
past tense of smell
1
as in sniffed
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
3
as in sucked
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 smelled The home smelled so bad that my clients and I still joke about it. Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 The cafeteria smelled the same. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025 The sergeant noted at least 12 bruises alone were found on the boy from the forehead down to the jaw on both sides of Campbell's face and that the child smelled overwhelmingly like urine. Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025 Beans sometimes smelled rancid. Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025 The Red Lane Spa, which smelled of ylang-ylang and frangipani, was another highlight. Essence, 18 Oct. 2025 The professional chef, who had never smelled her own feet before, screamed as Barrymore picked up her foot and gave it a sniff. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025 The whole room smelled like old furniture and melted ice pops. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 My dad considered luxury his old Jaguar two-seater that smelled of leather and oil, a cigar and a brandy, and long, indulgent lunches at great restaurants. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelled
Verb
  • Moehrig would later produce a huge third down stop for a loss of five yards as the Packers sniffed the end zone in the fourth quarter.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
  • The game may not have even sniffed extra innings without the game from Shohei Ohtani.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Talking to Mizzou fans in downtown Nashville after Saturday’s game, this reporter sensed a heavy sense of dread that couldn’t be drowned out by the sound of cover bands and the taste of alcohol.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Gomez and others have sensed the shock of fear in the dance community, which includes not only Latino dancers but people from a range of backgrounds who consider Latin dance more of a lifestyle than a hobby.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • James Guimaraes was on mile seven of his last training run for the New York City Marathon when he got sucked into a bidding war.
    Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Woody Allen’s 2007 drama, starring Farrell and Ewan McGregor as two brothers who get sucked into a murder plot, isn’t well liked, and Farrell’s performance is liked even less.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Jet fuels and other petroleum products are refined from crude oil, and contain chemicals that are toxic to humans when inhaled.
    Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Sprays are easy to apply to skin or clothing but must be used with caution as they can also be inhaled.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • His impact on those around him was immeasurable, and his loss is felt profoundly across our community.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • But the aftershocks of his success are also being felt more than 8,000 miles away in cities across the world’s most populous country, where his ascent is both celebrated and criticized.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 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
  • Democrats may also face a challenge from a case before the Supreme Court, which heard first in October, and a second set or oral arguments in early November.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The film’s title may be overstated, but there’s no denying the way the song’s message about longing, separation, and regret affected an inordinately wide range of people who heard it.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But when testing the bespoke shots in animals, Grippin noticed that even the placebo shots — which contained mRNA entirely unrelated to the cancer — also activated the immune system to kill tumors.
    Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
  • And it certainly can be noticed, both in its abundance, and in the case of the Warriors’ 129-104 shellacking on Friday night at the hands of the Nuggets in an Emirates Cup group stage matchup, in its absence.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelled. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on smelled

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!