as in sniffing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whiffing
Falvey was far from a perfect front-office lead, whiffing on plenty of trades and signings.
—
Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
This is still like the administration whiffing on the Epstein files.
—NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
The Houston Astros are in a tough spot after whiffing on the postseason last season.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
And after whiffing on Mazi Smith in the first round in 2023, grabbing a defensive tackle like Walter Nolen also presented some intrigue.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Dec. 2025
Instead, after whiffing on Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, the Pats pushed all their chips in to land him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Overshooting a dodge or whiffing a swing usually leads to contact damage, followed by an enemy attack, which will stun you for a few frames for them to reposition, causing even more contact damage as the foe decides to move through you.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
But Treinen snuffed out the rally by whiffing Adames looking at a full-count 96 mph sinker that nicked the outside corner and Matt Chapman swinging at an 85 mph sweeper that was way outside.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Outside of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw and depth receiver Jalen Nailor, Minnesota has almost nothing left from the 2021 and ’22 draft classes after whiffing on high picks in 2022 on first-round safety Lewis Cine, second-round cornerback Andrew Booth and third-round guard Ed Ingram.
—Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 4 Sep. 2025
Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
This is still like the administration whiffing on the Epstein files.
—NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
The Houston Astros are in a tough spot after whiffing on the postseason last season.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
And after whiffing on Mazi Smith in the first round in 2023, grabbing a defensive tackle like Walter Nolen also presented some intrigue.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Dec. 2025
Instead, after whiffing on Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, the Pats pushed all their chips in to land him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Overshooting a dodge or whiffing a swing usually leads to contact damage, followed by an enemy attack, which will stun you for a few frames for them to reposition, causing even more contact damage as the foe decides to move through you.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
But Treinen snuffed out the rally by whiffing Adames looking at a full-count 96 mph sinker that nicked the outside corner and Matt Chapman swinging at an 85 mph sweeper that was way outside.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Outside of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw and depth receiver Jalen Nailor, Minnesota has almost nothing left from the 2021 and ’22 draft classes after whiffing on high picks in 2022 on first-round safety Lewis Cine, second-round cornerback Andrew Booth and third-round guard Ed Ingram.
—Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiffing
Verb
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Barricades are up, bomb-sniffing dogs are on patrol and everyone entering the stadium area is screened at a checkpoint.—
Kris Van Cleave,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
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The two first-round picks netted by the Mavericks will not come close to sniffing lottery territory.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That film rubs off on your clothes and leaves them smelling stale and feeling stiff.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
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These toxic elements sat in the channel’s then-stagnant water, which led to a die-off of all vegetation and the emission of foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These new players were inhaling possibilities.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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They are sought out by patients who want to stop inhaling smoke, who can’t tolerate withdrawal, or who have failed repeatedly with abstinence-only approaches.—
Timothy Vermillion,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whiffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiffing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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