sniffed

Definition of sniffednext
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 But none of that seemed to matter because the Mets went on to lose that game, 7-1, and haven't sniffed a victory since. Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026 The episode builds to a scene when Duncan, having sniffed out JoAnne’s scheme, blackmails her into an even larger scheme to pump rival executives for business scoops. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026 But after just one shot at hosting it in 2011, the Cowboys haven’t sniffed another crack at the big game. Nick Harris april 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026 Not only were the Titans picked to finish last, but not one CSUF player sniffed an all-conference mention. Brian Robin, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026 The speedy outfielder hadn’t sniffed the big leagues in five years. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026 At the time, fellow Arab leaders sniffed, but today, with the enormous cost of regional chaos weighing directly on the Gulf, the king’s words are prescient. Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026 While police have not determined how long the girls had been buried at that location, the man whose dog sniffed them out told a local television station that the mound of dirt under which one of the bodies was found had been there at least a week. Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026 The tougher hurdle, historically speaking, is that the Cowboys haven’t sniffed a conference championship game in Dak’s time. Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniffed
Verb
  • Take that time at the 2021 Academy Awards when a reporter asked her what Brad Pitt smelled like.
    Regina Kim, Vogue, 24 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
Verb
  • These compounds can be immediately fatal if inhaled.
    Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
  • This product can turn into a big irritant if ingested or inhaled, and cause several digestive or respiratory issues.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sniffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniffed. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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