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
Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026
Each shirt got an immediate sniff test.
—Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Each creature took time to sniff, bite and slither around the shiny prize.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Noun
Fireworks coordinated with scratch-and-sniff cards for a multisensory experience.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026
Each shirt got an immediate sniff test.
—Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Bedard doesn’t have a single top-six caliber linemate to play with and still is sniffing a point-per-game season.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Each creature took time to sniff, bite and slither around the shiny prize.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
-
Now the venue is to be torn down later this year, the end to a destination just off the highway that was once full of televisions, betting counters and tables, and thick with the scent of afternoon and evening cocktails.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The sharp, pungent scent of chile peppers clings to the air.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Spiky Mexican feathergrass pushes through the gravel in the high desert that smells of creosote after a light rain.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Water began pouring into David Tahara’s North Park home Tuesday night around midnight, thanks to a late-breaking rainfall and a basement storm drain that smelled of sewage at certain points.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Creating a simmer pot is simple and fills your home with a pleasant aroma.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Water helps soften the bran along with orange juice, which adds a floral aroma; molasses and honey highlight bran’s natural sweetness; and oil and buttermilk add a touch of richness.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Luckily, there was about 15 minutes of tiara chat while inhaling scones to make the time pass more quickly.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
-
When inhaled, this fungus can propagate in the lungs, potentially causing scarring and collapse of lungs.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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