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
Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 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
Bieber’s slider spun off the outside corner for a total of 13 whiffs and called strikes.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 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
-
Ray Palmer is a lot of Brandon, some hints of Clark for sure.—
Charles Infosino,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The scene illuminates the story’s preoccupation not with the post-#MeToo world but with performance, hints of which can be found throughout the film.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Leave them overnight for footwear that smells much fresher in the morning.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The sunbaked air smells like creosote.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Potholder has adapted to Idaho with touches of Gem State wall decor.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Little fixes and thoughtful touches go a long way in turning your space into a place someone wants to return to, and maybe stay.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the clip, an elderly woman stands holding a bowl and a spoon beside a massive brown bear that sniffs her feet.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The picture shows them on the floor together with Comet fully exposing his belly, a sign of trust, while Dottie sniffs him.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Well, that’s where the Golden State truly glimmers.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
-
This year, Parents explores the various emotions that families experience during the holidays—and how to find the glimmers to infuse joy throughout the season.—
Parents Editors,
Parents,
21 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2025.
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