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 Eventually, Bird’s film — with a script co-written by Matthew Robbins — gets to the meat of the action when Venus’ extremely complicated life runs smack into Ray and his knack for sniffing out bad guys. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026 In the doorframe was the manager, sniffing around, suspicions aroused. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 Alaniz then detained her for a drug-sniffing dog, which alerted to the vehicle. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026 And security inside Alice Tully Hall, where the film premiered, was certainly tight—metal detectors, physical checks of bags, K9 bomb-sniffing dogs. — Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026 Dogs and cats may be triggered by this distinctive smell and show unusual behavior when skunks are nearby, such as sniffing or pawing the dirt around the burrow or becoming more protective by growling or hovering near the entrance. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 24 Sep. 2026 Though Leighton appears in front of their home at the end of the episode, the Dessens don’t realize that the MacNamara of their analog world has been sniffing around, too. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 Vocal tics may range from throat clearing and sniffing to repeating words or sounds. — Michael Okun, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniffing

Verb

Josh Hartnett plays fisherman Calvin Penney, attempting to harvest blue ice for vodka in the face of declining stocks, but finding his haul smelling strangely of ammonia.

— Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
The products were Park Hyatt’s usual—delicious-smelling La Labo toiletries.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of smelling

Verb

But some people abuse it by inhaling it to feel relaxed or euphoric.

— Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Tottenham attempted to offload Bissouma last summer, and the club later initiated another internal investigation after an image leaked of Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon again.

— Colin Millar, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026