as in scent
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose
we took a good sniff of the sauce, trying to guess its ingredients
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sniff
Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Eighteen of his 54 shots have been high-danger sniffs below the dots.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Edward Szekeres, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Colorado doesn’t need a winning record on the road, but its .331 winning percentage over the last six seasons has given it no chance of sniffing a winning record.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Noun
Other than a five-second span late in the game, the Canucks did not get a sniff of the Canadiens net with Dach and Newhook on at five-on-five the entire night.
—Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Eighteen of his 54 shots have been high-danger sniffs below the dots.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
And with Trump’s re-election in November last year leaving Americans around the world worried about what the next four years may bring, some communities have sniffed an opportunity.
—Edward Szekeres, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Colorado doesn’t need a winning record on the road, but its .331 winning percentage over the last six seasons has given it no chance of sniffing a winning record.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
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Her favorite scent is Highrise, which features notes of red currant, velvet plum, and amber, but there are three other fresh varieties to choose from.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2025
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Try teasing with scents, like a specific fragrance that turns you on.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The girl’s breath smelled of sleep, just slightly stale—no time for mouthwash, toothpaste, in her haste to see him.—
Joyce Carol Oates,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
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Let all this go unchecked, and your oven will either look bad, smell bad, or both.—
Matthew Korfhage,
WIRED,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Bright, intense purple; heady aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, lavender and a hint of clove.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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Rich in cultural traditions, different selections of these heirloom varieties favor different climates and geographies differently, offering a wide range of aromas and flavors.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The pope suffered a number of respiratory complications, such as inhaling some vomit that led to aspiration and required noninvasive mechanical ventilation.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
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When ingested or inhaled, these microplastics can release these chemicals into the body, potentially leading to adverse health effects.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
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