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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sniff
Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
But with a lot of hockey left to play, the B’s did not give the explosive Canucks a sniff.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2024
Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025
Whannell sniffs around the perimeter of a culture war subtext.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sniff 
Noun
Anxious dogs that like to obsessively lick, dig or sniff might also like pad toys.
—Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
But with a lot of hockey left to play, the B’s did not give the explosive Canucks a sniff.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2024
Verb
When Rocky was able to sniff out the suspect hiding in a dumpster, the suspect shot the K-9 three times in the neck, the Harris County Constable Precinct 4 said in a Facebook post.
—Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025
Whannell sniffs around the perimeter of a culture war subtext.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sniff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniff
Noun
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But apart from preservation itself, scent was also a major part of mummification.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2025
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That training consists of canine psychology, obedience, agility, tracking, scent detection and more, according to the Sheriff’s Office.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The demands of California’s agriculture and population growth have had severe consequences for native fish species since the early 20th century, with roughly 80% of previous populations of native salmon, trout, sturgeon and the delta smelt.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Jan. 2025
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Trump's claims that measures to protect the delta smelt, an endangered fish, upstate affected L.A.'s water supply are false, according to Ashley Overhouse, a California water policy adviser for the nonprofit conservation organization Defenders of Wildlife.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The pit is located in the back of the dining room, so the aroma of the meat smoking permeates the building in the best way.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2025
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Loading your audio article Spanish music blares, crowds bustle and the aroma of savory and sweet treats wafts into every corner of Oakland’s Fruitvale Public Market, a space offering Latin American finds curated by small entrepreneurs for more than two decades.—
Sierra Lopez,
The Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The state concluded that people could safely inhale the chemical at concentrations thousands of times higher than the EPA’s safe limit.—
Lisa Song,
ProPublica,
5 Feb. 2025
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Perhaps the most notable is lead, a heavy metal — which has no safe level of exposure for anyone, and which can permanently stunt the development of children when inhaled or ingested.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sniff
Cite this Entry
“Sniff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniff. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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