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
Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025
It's followed by a pet horse, Cricket, which gives a couch a good sniff.
—CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
After about a minute of back-and-forthing with the dog, who sometimes comes close enough to eat the food before sniffing it and turning away, Albert and Meghan try one more tactic.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Noun
The utility is providing a scratch-and-sniff experience that reeks of rotten eggs and aims to teach customers what a gas leak smells like.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025
It's followed by a pet horse, Cricket, which gives a couch a good sniff.
—CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
Additionally, there are more than five other bomb-sniffing dogs that are in the Bay Area to keep the game safe.
—ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
After about a minute of back-and-forthing with the dog, who sometimes comes close enough to eat the food before sniffing it and turning away, Albert and Meghan try one more tactic.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
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The one thing worth noting, however, is that the lotion has medicinal-like scent.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
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But flowers also evoke our senses, especially when captured in scent.—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These are the areas where, as Solodko explains, perishables interact, and smells can happen.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
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Pine-Sol can get rid of tough stains and smells such as grease and unpleasant odors on athletic gear for clothing that seems good as new.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Alongside the artifacts that inspired this project, the team recreated the aromas of mummification in ancient Egypt.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
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The buns get their faint green color and grassy, coconut-leaning aroma from the addition of pandan.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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They are sought out by patients who want to stop inhaling smoke, who can’t tolerate withdrawal, or who have failed repeatedly with abstinence-only approaches.—
Timothy Vermillion,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Guardiola inhaled deeply when asked about the non-handball against Wolves last weekend and could have decided not to comment.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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