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
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 June 2025
Then, bring the glass to your nose and take a short, gentle sniff.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025
Fellow outside linebacker Harold Landry sniffed a one play-action bootleg throw in 11-on-11s, and got victimized on a tight end screen pass from Maye that zipped right by him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Noun
Loewe Tomato Leaves Candle: First sniffs revealed a truly lovely grassy, vegetal scent.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 June 2025
Then, bring the glass to your nose and take a short, gentle sniff.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
Since starting the European swing, Mercedes hasn't been close to matching that performance, not even sniffing a podium.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025
Fellow outside linebacker Harold Landry sniffed a one play-action bootleg throw in 11-on-11s, and got victimized on a tight end screen pass from Maye that zipped right by him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
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Every element, from name to scent, evoked longing, mystery and love.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
12 Aug. 2025
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For a playful yet sweet date night scent, Ledda’s 16 Scenic Rose is a lovely choice.—
Sarah Boyd,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Nostalgia gardening draws on your memories to create a garden filled with sights and smells that remind you of cherished moments.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Aug. 2025
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The air smelled of sea salt, cinnamon and tropical fruit, as if God had spilled sunscreen from the heavens during application.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Tasting through five different wines (see tasting notes at end), I was struck by the heady perfumed aromas of each wine along with the velvety tannins and very long seamless finish with a touch of minerality.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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To compensate for the decreased aroma from the tea leaves during the brewing process, magnolia leaves and olive oil are added to enhance the flavor, giving it a dose of freshness.—
Maggie Hiufu Wong,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Emory has been working on a dry powder mRNA antiviral platform that could be inhaled and Tiba is working on a platform that uses a nanoparticle carrier technology, according to the BARDA website.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
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Children, older adults and people suffering from respiratory conditions, including asthma, are particularly vulnerable to the fine particulate matter small enough to be inhaled that is the toxic byproduct of wildfires, environmental officials warned.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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