sniffed

past tense of sniff
as in smelled
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose a curious cat sniffing the flowers in the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sniffed The final three possessions to determine the winner included a screen pass sniffed out by Lawrence, tipped in the air and intercepted. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Office They were flagged as suspicious at a UPS facility in Queens after a K9 sniffed out the drugs. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 The team also observed fewer responses to urine odors the test cats had previously sniffed after a few months, suggesting that cats have a long-term memory for urine scents. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026 Barkley sniffed the patient all over, and pointed right at her neck, around where the thyroid is located. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2026 There was the guy Daemon stabbed through the ear, and then the smelly killers Gwayne sniffed out, and now Ser Adrian, who took a knife to the throat within seconds of seeing Aemond. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 From July 24 to July 26, pups competed in the Dog On It Scent Work Trials, where dogs sniffed around boxes, underneath chairs and outside to find the scent. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 28 July 2026 The animal wandered through the house, sniffed a tube of toothpaste in the bathroom and urinated on the floor before leaving. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 The dogs who sniffed became measurably more optimistic and were quicker to approach new and uncertain situations. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniffed
Verb
  • The food smelled sour and the water tasted off, several said.
    — Hanna Park, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Aryna Sabalenka stopped a match because, apparently, the stadium smelled more like weed than your neighbor’s van with the Dio album cover airbrushed on the side.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Messick emerged from the dugout tunnel Monday afternoon in a hoodie with cutoff sleeves, inhaled and reveled in the crisp air that tends to accompany a playoff race.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The Midcentury Modern library where Rosales first inhaled the aroma of old books has changed.
    — Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sniffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniffed. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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