whiffed

past tense of whiff
as in sniffed
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

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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 whiffed Alcantara, who walked one and whiffed three, is winless in his last eight starts. — Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026 Greenlaw, for example, whiffed on a tackle attempt of Puka Nacua on a 41-yard pass play in the second quarter — the longest play of the game for either team — that set up Los Angeles’ only score. — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Jacas also let Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson escape the pocket on one edge rush and whiffed on a run stop in the backfield with no lineman in front of him. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026 On one play, rookie running back Emmett Johnson whiffed on pass protection, which led to a side conversation with Reid. — Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Meanwhile, teams that whiffed on KD were forced to resort to alternative options. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Mets starter Freddy Peralta allowed three runs, all unearned, and whiffed five in 5 2/3 innings. — ABC News, 25 June 2026 Jordan’s star player Mousa Al-Tamari whiffed on a crossing attempt, but the ball went right to midfielder Nizar Al-Rashdan, who hit the shot with the outside of his right foot. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 Posey, meanwhile, whiffed on the franchise-changing Devers trade. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiffed
Verb
  • In the late 1950s, Johnny and Vivian Cash, his first wife, along with their three daughters, moved from Memphis, Tennessee to California as the fabled singer sniffed out a potential career in Hollywood, like his contemporary Elvis Presley.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
  • When The Associated Press visited Sunday, Tigrino cautiously emerged from his shelter, sniffed the air and paced around for a few minutes before slipping back into the foliage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In my early memories, my grandfather had smelled like carpet cleaner.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • For Dylan Feierabend, there are few things more life-affirming than fishing for redtail surfperch and smelt at Centerville Beach in rural Humboldt County.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The chemical is highly corrosive, toxic when inhaled or touched, and flammable under specific concentrations.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The poorer the air being inhaled by children in Hackney, the more regularly the dust was agitated and the thicker the storm and richer the color inside the box.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Whiffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiffed. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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