sniffs 1 of 2

plural of sniff
as in scents
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose we took a good sniff of the sauce, trying to guess its ingredients

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sniffs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sniff
as in smells
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose a curious cat sniffing the flowers in the garden

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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 sniffs
Noun
Inside the stables, the family’s other two horses greeted Troy with affectionate sniffs, snuggles and neighs. Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026 McInerney fans may take a few sniffs opening weekend, and Fox fans may hole up for a couple weeks of curious glances, but Bright Lights boxoffice prospects seem mighty dim. Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026 There are loud sniffs and some sobs. Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026 When Cody the golden retriever was introduced to his new sibling, his owner probably would have hoped for some happy tail wags and some curious sniffs to show his curiosity. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 Just a few kilometers away, a black bear sniffs and studies the device tethering it to a tree. Ganesh Marín, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025 From pet stores to hardware stores (with aisles as long as some street blocks), your dog will get in plenty of sniffs, pets, and some light exercise. Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Luz inserts the construction pole; Susana sniffs. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026 The look of sheer repressed, stymied rage/laughter on Raph’s face when Paul sniffs the Oreos instead is one of the episode’s biggest laughs. Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026 In the video, Chilli sniffs large bricks to locate the scent a trainer shared with him. Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026 The picture shows them on the floor together with Comet fully exposing his belly, a sign of trust, while Dottie sniffs him. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025 Lina sniffs, stamps her feet in the snow to make her own set of giant prints to frighten this creature. Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025 In one recent video, Stella sniffs Mia’s infant daughter and then presses the button for her name. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniffs
Noun
  • Desirable aromatherapy scents include lavender that can help decompress, marjoram that targets the nervous system and neroli for reducing stress.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • First on the docket is Fall Traditions, the 34-piece collection featuring scents like Football Season, The Perfect Autumn, Cider Lane and more across the Bath & Body Works suite of products.
    Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • When choosing a fresh pineapple, look for one that feels heavy and smells lightly sweet near the base.
    Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 3 July 2026
  • Freshwater showers mean the sweaty smells of young adults doing manual labor never get too intense.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The nose kicks off with a kick of Calvados, and early aromas include poached pears and apple jelly.
    David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Visitors entering the show don neck rings and wrist bands, the first to add the aromas of earth and flowers to the multi-sensory experience, the second to adjust the visual displays to each person’s emotional response.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The chemical is particularly tough on the human respiratory system and, depending on how much a person inhales, MMA can cause everything from sore throats and cough to dizziness, nausea and, at the highest levels, damage to the nervous system, Kleinman said.
    Sierra van der Brug, Oc Register, 23 May 2026

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“Sniffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniffs. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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