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whiff 1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wif How to pronounce whiff (audio)
Definition of whiffnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Was there a whiff of treachery among this crew, someone who might betray them to the Germans? — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 Lynch’s massive draft whiffs feel like harmless clerical rounding errors next to his good work in handling all the off-the-field stuff that lands on his desk. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
Dodgers reliever Will Klein had just induced the Mets’ Marcus Semien to whiff on a high heater. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 Meanwhile, teams that whiffed on KD were forced to resort to alternative options. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiff
  1. hint
  2. smell
  3. glimmer
  4. sniff
  5. inhale
Noun
  • But the Italianate fountains at the entrance is your first hint that a resort wonderland awaits.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • While there is no water vapor, JWST has picked up hints of solid particles of crystalline water-ice.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hint
Verb
  • The air smells of jasmine, fresh bread from the bakery, and the sea.
    — Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Adriatic sage brings the outdoors in—this candle smells like an open window in the height of Italian summer, sunlight on tile floors, and triple servings of pasta to come in the late dusk.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of smell
Noun
  • Although the proffer glitch gave the defense what appeared to be a glimmer of hope, Long’s recording, too, was played for jurors.
    — John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Peppered amid the challenges for 2025 were glimmers of hope through successes like Weapons ($270 million globally on a $38 million budget), while modestly budgeted reboots Freakier Friday and Final Destination Bloodlines also turned profits.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of glimmer
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of sniff
Verb
  • The Midcentury Modern library where Rosales first inhaled the aroma of old books has changed.
    — Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • However, hundreds of people died and thousands struggled with cancer or chronic illnesses after inhaling toxic fumes.
    — Veronica Bravo, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of inhale

Browse Nearby Words

whickers
whiff
whiffed
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Cite this Entry

“Whiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiff. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whiff

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whiff

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