as in scent
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose
we took a good sniff of the sauce, trying to guess its ingredients
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sniff
Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Those little sniffs tell our brains about good and bad smells.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024
Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Comparable to exercise: A 20-minute sniffing session can be as beneficial as a one-hour walk.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Noun
Of facing Bodo/Glimt, Europe’s leading giant-killers, barely giving them a sniff over two legs and winning 5-1 on aggregate to reach the final.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Those little sniffs tell our brains about good and bad smells.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
Loyal fans and Substack readers looking for deeper dives into a brand world can sniff out when something is done strictly as a marketing play.
—Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Comparable to exercise: A 20-minute sniffing session can be as beneficial as a one-hour walk.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
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They're known for having a sweet, warm and slightly spicy scent similar to cinnamon or nutmeg, and are commonly consumed in ground form as a spice added to recipes.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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Botanical Name: Mentha Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Soil Type: Moist, well-draining Soil pH: Neutral 08 of 11 Petunias These colorful annuals have an unusual scent that flies seem to hate.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Magnolia Citrus Grove Candle Gaines and her team dreamed up this candle that smells like a walk through a citrus grove with notes of tahini lime, bergamot, and clementine for a fresh, clean scent.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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The woodsy smelling item, which also contains pine bark extract, launched Friday, and is already sold out.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Noun
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On a warm summer night, the presence of two huge bakeries seven blocks apart on Edmondson Avenue must have made for some sweet aromas.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 June 2025
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This cake is delicate and tender, with sweetness and coconut aroma that cuts all the way through.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Recently, a Tempe, Arizona teenager, Renna Kay O'Rourke, engaged in a dangerous trend known as dusting—or inhaling chemicals from an aerosol duster or keyboard cleaner.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
12 June 2025
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Whether in the hotel’s peaceful garden or a dedicated yoga room, guests can inhale crisp mountain air, soak in the alpine sun and reconnect with mind and body.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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