sniffing

Definition of sniffingnext
present participle of sniff
as in smelling
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 sniffing The Dallas City Council turned to a new search firm Wednesday to recruit a watchdog responsible for sniffing out wasteful spending, fraud and corruption in City Hall. Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026 During the talk, Cindy catches Miss Mann sniffing women's underwear, then stuffing it back into her desk. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026 Barricades are up, bomb-sniffing dogs are on patrol and everyone entering the stadium area is screened at a checkpoint. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026 The two first-round picks netted by the Mavericks will not come close to sniffing lottery territory. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026 Photos show the stacks of cash were well disguised among other boxes in the trailer, but a drug-sniffing K-9 was not fooled, police said. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026 But a little before that, photographer Poupay Jutharat was on the ground at the Javits Center, sniffing around as the pups prepped, primped, and occasionally napped before go-time. Poupay Jutharat, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniffing
Verb
  • That film rubs off on your clothes and leaves them smelling stale and feeling stiff.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
  • These toxic elements sat in the channel’s then-stagnant water, which led to a die-off of all vegetation and the emission of foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These new players were inhaling possibilities.
    Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • 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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Cite this Entry

“Sniffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniffing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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