1
as in sniffing
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose
we smelled the aroma of freshly baked cookies as soon as we walked in the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sensing
to have a vague awareness of
I smell something fishy about this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smelling
The things that are important to me—taking care of myself, skincare, grooming, hygiene, smelling good, being clean—have always been high priorities.
—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Additionally, avoid storing near strongly smelling foods to keep your cheese from absorbing flavors or odors, and always label and date to keep track of the use by date.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
30 June 2026
Old Herald clippings from 1986 reported about homeowners’ toilets and sinks smelling like gas, a 3-year-old getting rashes and fevers from drinking the well water and fear of dryers exploding.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Everything stays organized, contained, and smelling fresh, which somehow makes unpacking (and repacking) far less painful.
—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
But to keep your rug looking (and smelling) fresh, here are some of our go-tos.
—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2026
Tough and compact, standing at 4 feet tall, these gorgeous roses ensure a sweet-smelling and visually appealing presence.
—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
But as the fire continued, Monterey Park residents reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Additionally, avoid storing near strongly smelling foods to keep your cheese from absorbing flavors or odors, and always label and date to keep track of the use by date.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
30 June 2026
Old Herald clippings from 1986 reported about homeowners’ toilets and sinks smelling like gas, a 3-year-old getting rashes and fevers from drinking the well water and fear of dryers exploding.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Everything stays organized, contained, and smelling fresh, which somehow makes unpacking (and repacking) far less painful.
—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
But to keep your rug looking (and smelling) fresh, here are some of our go-tos.
—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2026
Tough and compact, standing at 4 feet tall, these gorgeous roses ensure a sweet-smelling and visually appealing presence.
—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
But as the fire continued, Monterey Park residents reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelling
Verb
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Musk and SpaceX have a true nose for money, including sniffing out government infusions and contracts.
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The streamer on June 8 dropped an adorable photo of the real Great Dane puppy, as well as a brief teaser video that shows Scooby-Doo sniffing around in the woods before being picked up by Shaggy.
Verb
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These include the Type 91 surface-to-air missile barge, Type 92 underwater sensing vessel, Type 93 autonomous submarine, and Type 94 surface sensing vessel, all of which form part of the UK’s broader Hybrid Navy concept.
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This is one reason to go breadth-first across sensing modalities; doing so can help close the gap in appearance, sensors and kinematics between human and robot.
Verb
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The Tennis Racket Is Not the Tennis Player There’s a narrative that generative AI is a soul-sucking, job-killing machine.
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Federal water managers have already been sucking water out of other reservoirs in Colorado and Wyoming to slow Lake Powell's decline.
Verb
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Avoid inhaling the dust—even food-grade—as prolonged exposure can irritate the lungs, says Harlow-Ellis.
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Gonzalez worked to enforce a roadblock during the chemical plume without being informed about the dangers of inhaling the chemicals.
Verb
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Persistent fatigue despite adequate sleep, dizziness, breathlessness, brain fog, low mood, brittle nails, hair fall, feeling unusually cold, and changes in skin quality all signal low ferritin levels.
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In India, feeling that one's work improves others' lives carries more weight than in most countries.
Verb
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True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
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Hernandez, 29, a contractor based in Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, undertook the $380 project with furniture from HomeGoods after seeing his pet spend most of her life tucked away in a little corner.
Verb
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Handing the survivor her jewelry and hearing her story a few days later gave Dondi and her team of volunteers a reassuring nudge to push forward with their work.
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During Murdaugh’s first status hearing on Monday, June 29, Judge Debra McCaslin did not rule on the DNA evidence, telling defense attorneys to clarify if the sample was viable.
Verb
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That matters because adults wait an average of nine years after first noticing hearing loss before treating it.
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Research has increasingly pointed to app designs built for engagement and addiction rather than actual matchmaking, and users are noticing.
Cite this Entry
“Smelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelling. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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