whiff 1 of 2

Definition of whiffnext
as in hint
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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whiff

2 of 2

verb

as in to smell
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose whiffed the pot of chili on the stove and announced that he was staying for dinner

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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 whiff
Noun
Rays batters swung at 51 of Tolle’s 81 pitches, including 12 whiffs. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026 Just like the Phillies last Thursday, the Padres came out in swing mode against Webb, who threw 26 two-seamers and generated 17 swings on the pitch with just one whiff. Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Verb
Benson whiffed on a tip-in chance two minutes later. ABC News, 8 May 2026 As he’s been known to do in pressure situations, Ohtani shifted into another gear, touching 101 mph en route to striking out Jose Altuve on an outside sweeper that finished in the opposite batter’s box as Altuve whiffed. Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiff
Noun
  • In fact, there’s even a hint of pre-Civ 7 here, in that the civs definitely feel most powerful during their apex age.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
  • During what was billed as the Steel Topping Out ceremony at new Nissan Stadium in November, Goodell was very complimentary of the franchise's facility, and even dropped hints that a Super Bowl could be headed to Nashville someday.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • His home office is a narrow two-bedroom near an asphalt processing plant and a superfund site, both of which can be smelled with the windows open on a warm day.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
  • Shelves lined with baking ingredients, bolts of fabric, tinware, nails, and jars of penny candy created a patchwork of textures and smells ranging from molasses and leather to spices and tobacco smoke.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • But ultimately, what should fans take from the moving yet sorrowful final chapter, which is punctuated with a glimmer of hope and possibly the breath of life for its central characters?
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • While math achievement saw a rebound after the pandemic, reading continued to decline through 2024, with 2025 offering glimmers of a turnaround, the report said.
    Paris Barraza, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Because the New York Post is reporting the world’s richest man was recently spotted sniffing around one of Miami Beach’s most elite streets, North Bay Road, at the site of an under-construction mega-mansion.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
  • Still, the Mariners had other Hall of Fame caliber talents in the 2000s and 2010s like the aforementioned Ichiro, Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre and Robinson Cano, and still couldn't even sniff an AL pennant, let alone a World Series.
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Because the high is brief, users may repeatedly inhale the substance over a short period of time, which increases the risk of toxicity.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
  • Rather than burn tobacco, e-cigarettes heat up a liquid consisting of nicotine, flavorings and additives that are inhaled as vapor.
    Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Whiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiff. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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