as in hints
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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Recent Examples of whiffs
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Last week, the Steelers started rolling through their run game thanks to several whiffs by Patriots defenders over their first two drives.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Farris struck out five, and got 16 whiffs.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
Additionally, Ragans finished with 37 swings and 13 whiffs in his return start.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The first whiffs of police teargas came before daybreak, with scuffles between riot officers and protesters in Paris.
—Dan Gooding
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Peterson used his sinker to induce ground-balls, and a changeup below the zone got whiffs.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
Arizona right-hander Nabil Crismatt, called up from Triple-A Reno for Sunday’s start, flummoxed Rockies hitters with his 82 mph changeup, generating nine whiffs on 15 swings.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Of course, the nine-year vet still needs 2,411 whiffs to get there.
—Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
Their first 12 swings against offspeed pitches from Snell resulted in 12 whiffs.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Last week, the Steelers started rolling through their run game thanks to several whiffs by Patriots defenders over their first two drives.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Farris struck out five, and got 16 whiffs.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
Additionally, Ragans finished with 37 swings and 13 whiffs in his return start.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The first whiffs of police teargas came before daybreak, with scuffles between riot officers and protesters in Paris.
—Dan Gooding
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Peterson used his sinker to induce ground-balls, and a changeup below the zone got whiffs.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
Arizona right-hander Nabil Crismatt, called up from Triple-A Reno for Sunday’s start, flummoxed Rockies hitters with his 82 mph changeup, generating nine whiffs on 15 swings.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Of course, the nine-year vet still needs 2,411 whiffs to get there.
—Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Given Eldridge’s offensive profile, there will likely always be a fair amount of strikeouts and whiffs in his game.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiffs
Noun
-
Unlike traditional candles that require an open flame, these lamps gently melt your favorite wax from the top down, filling your space with hints of Honeycrisp apple and vanilla pumpkin safely and efficiently.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
-
OpenAI’s actions also provide hints.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Loaded with fresh herbs, celery, and poultry seasoning, this cornbread smells like Thanksgiving in a skillet.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Now everybody smells what The Rock is cooking – even Oscar.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
With 300 locations or so now, Dave’s Hot Chicken still includes local touches with custom, graffiti-style art at each shop.—
Amanda Hancock,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Brashard Smith is also earning more touches in Kansas City, as many rookie backs have fantasy arrows pointing up.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At first, the curious canine sniffs a paw, but soon follows the trail straight to the source—the black dog's ear.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Hired by Leo's sister-in-law (Shailene Woodley), Detective Bali sniffs out the winding secrets of the powerful Vardakis family, unraveling a crime of passion.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
During a season when even the most successful night of the year is marred by a devastating injury to the team’s best player, there are still glimmers of hope for the Dolphins.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Baker wisely doesn’t attempt to write entirely in Austen’s wry style, but glimmers do peek through.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But things get weird when Kamala sees flickers of zombie faces in the crowd.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Foster’s tenure had flickers of momentum.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whiffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiffs. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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