whiff 1 of 2

as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something even a whiff of appreciation for everything I've done for her would have been nice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whiff

2 of 2

verb

as in to smell
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose whiffed the pot of chili on the stove and announced that he was staying for dinner

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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 whiff
Noun
Another marker of the time is that there’s a faint whiff of smoke on the palate, although no peat was used during production. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025 These had a whiff of the provocative — often viral — streetwear-leaning creations by Demna. Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
Donte Jackson whiffed on an early tackle. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025 Linebackers Mohamed Toure and Wesley Bissainthe whiffed on the initial tackle, and Bell went untouched the rest of the way to the end zone. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiff
Noun
  • Heidi Klum kept fans guessing all day with hints about her 2025 Halloween costume.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Tender and with just a hint of salinity, fresh hauls come in from just off the coast and are served brilliantly with salad and spicy butter.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Your body gets hunger signals from seeing and smelling food.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The cafeteria smelled the same.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • While some see a glimmer of hope in this moment, others are skeptical.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Directed by Olivier & Tony Award nominee Jeremy Herrin (People, Places and Things; Wolf Hall) and MacMillan, Every Brilliant Thing revolves around a man who looks back at his life and the glimmers of hope that carried him through.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Moehrig would later produce a huge third down stop for a loss of five yards as the Packers sniffed the end zone in the fourth quarter.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
  • His worst day with the Broncos, as Barajas joked, couldn’t sniff his worst day in the Navy.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Health and Safety Concerns Proper ventilation is vital when using bleach because bleach fumes can be harmful if inhaled.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Competitive freediving events demand that participants inhale nothing but normal air prior to a dive.
    Sean Williams, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiff. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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