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
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Rub a pinch between your fingers and sniff.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
The drugs showed up in the jail mailroom in October 2024, but a police K9 named Toby sniffed them out, according to authorities.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Noun
The man then places the blanket in the baby's bassinet and leaves another one on Jax's bed, even letting the animal sniff Hogan's labor gown.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Rub a pinch between your fingers and sniff.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
The first is Christopher Walken as Gabriel, a mean-spirited angel who sniffs and licks crime scenes and inspects children’s teeth for reasons that sort of make sense within the movie.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
The drugs showed up in the jail mailroom in October 2024, but a police K9 named Toby sniffed them out, according to authorities.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
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These iconic spring flowers are known for their clusters of bright purple, blue, pink, and white blooms that grow atop tall stalks and powerful scent.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
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Plus, the full scent trio of two candles and a diffuser will run you less than $75 with sale prices.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Later, the sleeper-inners among the season’s house guests will stumble downstairs well after the whole house has started to smell, well, like Thanksgiving.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
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Open air is what [Texas] smells like.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The scent combines notes of charred hardwood, carbon clove, saw dust and powder smolder to achieve an aroma similar to that of a smoky old fashioned.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
5 Nov. 2025
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Wander among vendors selling paintings, handmade jewelry, and local crafts as the aroma of cooking treats fills the air.—
Aaron Randolph,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Jet fuels and other petroleum products are refined from crude oil, and contain chemicals that are toxic to humans when inhaled.—
Connor Giffin,
Louisville Courier Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
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Sprays are easy to apply to skin or clothing but must be used with caution as they can also be inhaled.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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