Thesaurus results for SNIFFING

sniffing

verb

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 39-year-old, who has been arrested multiple times in Burbank and Glendale, was taken into custody on suspicion of violating terms of his probation from a previous arrest linked to sniffing women’s rears. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Less than a month later, he was arrested again after allegedly sniffing another woman’s butt at a Walgreens in Burbank. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 In sniffing out the many, many chemical compounds that naked mole rats produce, scientists found that isopropyl myristate was common among queens and queens alone. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026 Mondon, a 2025 fifth-round pick, opened team drills with the second-team defense by sniffing out a run along the perimeter. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Favorite activities include taking long walks, sniffing in the yard with the siblings, and playing with balls. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 The Wheatland Police Department contacted other authorities and requested bomb-sniffing dogs for a full search of Bear River, Gouker said. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The Wheatland Police Department has contacted the appropriate authorities and requested bomb-sniffing dogs to conduct a full sweep of the campus. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Dogs can be trained to alert to these odors by sniffing samples of breath, plasma and saliva, and have the capacity to detect cancerous cells early on in the disease’s progression, according to the Kennel Club. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniffing

Verb

Toss the lemons into the washer and run a quick cycle with hot water to leave the machine shining and smelling fresh.

— Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2026
Just like smelling a particular fragrance can bring back a memory faster than any other sense, a Taylor Swift song strikes an immediate, familiar chord.

— Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of smelling

Verb

The process would be similar to inhaling allergy medicine via a nasal spray.

— Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
And in the summer working, caring for the garden, cultivating my plants, my food, inhaling the sun, seeing my skin become brown just as the flowers are also growing their colours, and my beloved garden plants are delivering their brilliant food.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026