snuff

verb

Definition of snuffnext
1
as in to sniff
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose the dog began barking as soon as she snuffed the scent of squirrel

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to assassinate
to put to death deliberately the proprietor of the boarding house had apparently snuffed almost 50 old men before she was caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 snuff But this week’s latest exchange of fire over who controls the Strait of Hormuz threatens to snuff out the deal just weeks after it was signed. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 28 June 2026 Free expression in America has not been snuffed out, even when faced with political opposition in the past. — Isabel Ruehl, The Atlantic, 25 June 2026 The Palmetto Bay restaurant wasn’t up to snuff in January, but passed the callback inspection the following day. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026 However, Nike quickly snuffed out optimism of turning point, forecasting China revenue to be down about 20% in its current quarter, which will be reported after the bell on June 30 . — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for snuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snuff
  1. sniff
  2. assassinate
  3. smell
  4. murder
  5. inhale
  6. slay
  7. execute
  8. kill
Verb
  • Both EagleShield and All Day West will perform inspections using bedbug-sniffing dogs after treatment is complete, Guillén wrote.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • The dogs who sniffed became measurably more optimistic and were quicker to approach new and uncertain situations.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Definition of sniff
Verb
  • Attorneys at a key hearing for the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk sparred over whether a police interview should be made public, with Kirk’s family attorney saying that sealing it will only sow distrust in the justice system.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 July 2026
  • The 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University will be in court this week for the most substantial hearing so far in his murder case.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
Definition of assassinate
Verb
  • Since the garden exhibited its first corpse flower in 1999, thousands of people flock to its conservatory every summer, just to smell these putrid plants.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • An amazing summer essential and handbag must-have, this refreshing body mist smells like sunshine in a bottle.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of smell
Verb
  • Walker was abducted, raped, tortured and murdered after attending a Valentine’s Day dance with her boyfriend.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Shanahan notes that the spoiler that’s in the very title of the play — that someone named Roger Ackroyd was murdered — is more than enough.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Definition of murder
Verb
  • But fallen ash still poses major health risks if ingested or inhaled.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • It’s generally not spread from person to person; rather, it’s contracted by inhaling mist that contains Legionella bacteria, per the CDC.
    — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of inhale
Verb
  • In that case, authorities believe the mother was responsible for slaying the family and then killing herself.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • The body of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has arrived via plane to the Iranian city of Mashhad, where he is set to be buried, the state broadcaster IRIB reported Thursday.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
Definition of slay
Verb
  • The community services district worked with Environmental Science Associates to execute the requirement, including consulting with Native American tribal partners.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • In a July 9 Facebook post, the Nebraska Humane Society said its personnel executed a search warrant at a West Omaha residence following an anonymous tip about animals’ well-being.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of execute
Verb
  • Massive explosions lit up the night sky as ballistic missiles and drones hammered parts of the city, killing at least 14 people in the city and three others in the surrounding region, with dozens more wounded, city officials said.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Alicent and Helaena will be held prisoner until Aemond is found and killed.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of kill

Phrases Containing snuff

Browse Nearby Words

snuck up
snuff
snuffbox
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Cite this Entry

“Snuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snuff. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on snuff

Nglish: Translation of snuff for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about snuff

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