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
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Recent Examples of smelled
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
State police alleged that McNaughton smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, according to the warrant affidavit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025
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
State police alleged that McNaughton smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, according to the warrant affidavit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 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
-
The complete analytics report will tell the full story Friday morning, but the use of blitz felt uncharacteristically low for a Cowboys defense but characteristic of an Eberflus defense.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ultimately, Evans felt the juice was not worth the squeeze.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Eugene Domingo stars as Mauricia, a disrespected restaurant worker who, while watching soap operas one night, gets sucked through her TV screen into a training academy for villains.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
-
While flying a shuttlecraft, she gets sucked into a wormhole and crashes onto a barren moon.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wildfire smoke can impact anyone's health when inhaled.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
When dust is inhaled, the particles can collect in your lungs and lead to respiratory issues.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Alvarado immediately sensed that something was up.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
2 Sep. 2025
-
This strengthens and organizes one’s electromagnetic field, which can be sensed at a distance.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 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
-
When the barrels reached their loading dock, instead of rich complexity, the whiskey tasted of grass and hay.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This dish is best tasted and then adjusted for seasoning.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Velasco quickly noticed improvements within his classroom.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Officers didn’t find an injured person, but noticed a man with a knife approaching them.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelled. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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