scents 1 of 2

plural of scent
1
as in fragrances
a sweet or pleasant smell the delightful scent of her perfume

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in smells
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose dogs are able to detect scents that are far below the threshold detectable by the human nose

Synonyms & Similar Words

scents

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scent

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 scents
Noun
Normal mice were drawn to the scents—but not mice whose granule cells had been silenced by optical fibers that the researchers implanted in the animals’ brains to switch these cells on and off. Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 29 July 2026 The American Kennel Club said these scents can be hidden in different places, including a container, like a box or briefcase, on or inside an object either outside or inside, or even buried in a container underneath sand or in water. Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 28 July 2026 The stale odor immediately envelops you, erasing all the pleasant scents of your favorite soap and shampoo. Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 28 July 2026 The idea of bringing these scents back from the ’90s was years in the making, says Redmond, but once Gap had these perfumers on board, the formulations took about two years. Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 27 July 2026 Secret Wonderland is one of the other 10 nostalgic scents from The Vault. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 23 July 2026 Each case comes with seven 20-count packs in Fresh Scent (five) and Lavender (two) scents. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 July 2026 The queen’s odor bouquet, however, contained many other scents. Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 Forty-two percent of fine fragrance revenue in the year to date comes from the top three scents — Madagascar Vanilla, Santa Barbara Strawberry, and Lychee Rose — across perfume oil, eau de parfum, and body mist formats. Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
Verb
Plug-ins tend to create scent shock at entry and inconsistent room transitions, because each device only scents the air around it and competes with any candles or sprays a homeowner has layered on top. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026 Bergamot scents a dish of Alpine trout and cauliflower purée, while one of his team is a forager from the region, and brings back clutches of pine needles and wild spinach. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scents
Noun
  • Authorities allege Carter would order thousands of dollars’ worth of high-end fragrances online before contacting retailers to initiate returns.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • Guests mix ingredients such as olive oil, herbs and fragrances, with ground olive seeds added as a natural scrub.
    Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • Keep your washing machine clean monthly to prevent bacteria and bad smells.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
  • Now a study in PLOS Biology suggests these vivid memories of early childhood smells are encoded in very specific parts of the brain.
    Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • Fresh lavender and lemon zest get rubbed into the sugar with your hands—a simple trick that perfumes the blueberry-peach filling with floral, citrusy notes.
    Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026
  • Markets brim with greens, citrus that perfumes the air and strawberries that’ll be a reminder of what they’re supposed to taste like.
    Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Luz inserts the construction pole; Susana sniffs.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • The look of sheer repressed, stymied rage/laughter on Raph’s face when Paul sniffs the Oreos instead is one of the episode’s biggest laughs.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Perhaps this season can serve as a bit of vindication for Marmol, who senses a shift in how his fan base perceives him.
    Katie Woo, New York Times, 13 July 2026
  • As Marielle and Fatima argue about what to do, Fatima senses Smiley approaching.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • His 2023, a blend of 87 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 percent Cabernet Franc, and 4 percent Petit Verdot, has aromas of cigar box, brown baking spices, and red raspberry.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 30 July 2026
  • We’re attracted to the appearance and the aromas of other humans because those are our friends and our family and our mates.
    Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • For many holders, paying with Bitcoin still feels less like using money and more like selling an appreciating asset.
    Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The image of Tessarion chained in the sept in Tumbleton feels quite emblematic of his own internal experience.
    Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scents. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on scents

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster