sniffed

past tense of sniff
as in smelled
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose a curious cat sniffing the flowers in the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniffed
Verb
  • Officers patrolling on an upper level of the subway station then smelled and saw smoke, and went to investigate, according to Tisch.
    Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Officers on a routine patrol at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station smelled and saw smoke and discovered the woman on fire, standing in the middle of the subway car.
    Susan Haigh, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • When ingested or inhaled, these microplastics can release these chemicals into the body, potentially leading to adverse health effects.
    Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The materials weren’t handled carefully, and toxic dust and mud were tracked throughout public spaces and streets in Corby — which expecting mothers inhaled.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Why is Trump so obsessed with California water policy, especially an endangered fish called the delta smelt?
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Long before humans were able to smelt iron from natural ores, meteoric iron was used by people as a welcome alternative.
    David Bressan, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Sniffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniffed. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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