as in sniffing
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
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Recent Examples of whiffing
The Jays were coming off another winter of striking out on big names, following their failure to sign Shohei Ohtani by whiffing on Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki.
—
Levi Weaver, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Instead, after whiffing on Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, the Pats pushed all their chips in to land him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Overshooting a dodge or whiffing a swing usually leads to contact damage, followed by an enemy attack, which will stun you for a few frames for them to reposition, causing even more contact damage as the foe decides to move through you.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
But Treinen snuffed out the rally by whiffing Adames looking at a full-count 96 mph sinker that nicked the outside corner and Matt Chapman swinging at an 85 mph sweeper that was way outside.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Outside of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw and depth receiver Jalen Nailor, Minnesota has almost nothing left from the 2021 and ’22 draft classes after whiffing on high picks in 2022 on first-round safety Lewis Cine, second-round cornerback Andrew Booth and third-round guard Ed Ingram.
—Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 4 Sep. 2025
All three outs in the ninth also came on strikeouts with Willi Castro and Dansby Swanson whiffing to strand Nico Hoerner.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Nick San Miguel of Around the Foghorn recently suggested the Giants could swing xa trade for Cleveland Guardians Gold Glove outfielder Steven Kwan in the offseason after whiffing at the trade deadline.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Levi Weaver, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Instead, after whiffing on Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, the Pats pushed all their chips in to land him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Overshooting a dodge or whiffing a swing usually leads to contact damage, followed by an enemy attack, which will stun you for a few frames for them to reposition, causing even more contact damage as the foe decides to move through you.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
But Treinen snuffed out the rally by whiffing Adames looking at a full-count 96 mph sinker that nicked the outside corner and Matt Chapman swinging at an 85 mph sweeper that was way outside.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Outside of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw and depth receiver Jalen Nailor, Minnesota has almost nothing left from the 2021 and ’22 draft classes after whiffing on high picks in 2022 on first-round safety Lewis Cine, second-round cornerback Andrew Booth and third-round guard Ed Ingram.
—Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 4 Sep. 2025
All three outs in the ninth also came on strikeouts with Willi Castro and Dansby Swanson whiffing to strand Nico Hoerner.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Nick San Miguel of Around the Foghorn recently suggested the Giants could swing xa trade for Cleveland Guardians Gold Glove outfielder Steven Kwan in the offseason after whiffing at the trade deadline.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiffing
Verb
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Common signals include sniffing, circling, squatting, or whining.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
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With help from a drug-sniffing dog and X-ray technology, CBP officers discovered packages hidden inside the car.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For Getting Rid Of Odors Is your kitchen smelling less than appetizing after cooking fish the previous night?—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
14 Oct. 2025
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The owner, smelling free labor, agreed.—
Sofía Pereda,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Miners argue increased subjection to the dust has led to an eruption of black lung, an incurable disease associated with inhaling the particles.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
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Amy Louise Leonard, 20, a makeup artist from Greater Manchester in England, lost the ability to walk for three weeks after inhaling a balloon filled with nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whiffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiffing. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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