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
  • 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
  • The 2008 book was intended as a warning, but as the pandemic hit, Abbotoy sensed an opportunity.
    David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 23 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
  • Health and Safety Concerns Proper ventilation is vital when using bleach because bleach fumes can be harmful if inhaled.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Its use was banned in many countries around the turn of the millennium amid concerns that the fibers, when airborne, could result in potentially fatal lung diseases if inhaled.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Though the locker room area felt a little cramped, the treatment menu itself could not be more extensive, with everything from Indian head massages and Guinot facials to Dead Sea mud therapy and a special selection of Ayurvedic offerings.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The accusation felt absurd, like calling a chihuahua a wolf.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 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
  • Before his sentencing, his attorneys filed a motion seeking a new trial, saying that evidence the jury heard does not prove his guilt, KCRG reports.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • In June 2024, a UK High Court judge determined that actor Lee Ingleby’s depiction was defamatory in a preliminary judgment, meaning the claim could be heard as a full trial.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • One day, Mae noticed Gracie was looking a little larger than usual.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The following day, the company noticed suspicious activity on its own network.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Smelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelled. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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