1
as in sniffing
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose
we smelled the aroma of freshly baked cookies as soon as we walked in the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sensing
to have a vague awareness of
I smell something fishy about this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smelling
The things that are important to me—taking care of myself, skincare, grooming, hygiene, smelling good, being clean—have always been high priorities.
—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Additionally, avoid storing near strongly smelling foods to keep your cheese from absorbing flavors or odors, and always label and date to keep track of the use by date.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
30 June 2026
Old Herald clippings from 1986 reported about homeowners’ toilets and sinks smelling like gas, a 3-year-old getting rashes and fevers from drinking the well water and fear of dryers exploding.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Everything stays organized, contained, and smelling fresh, which somehow makes unpacking (and repacking) far less painful.
—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
But to keep your rug looking (and smelling) fresh, here are some of our go-tos.
—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2026
Tough and compact, standing at 4 feet tall, these gorgeous roses ensure a sweet-smelling and visually appealing presence.
—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
But as the fire continued, Monterey Park residents reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Additionally, avoid storing near strongly smelling foods to keep your cheese from absorbing flavors or odors, and always label and date to keep track of the use by date.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
30 June 2026
Old Herald clippings from 1986 reported about homeowners’ toilets and sinks smelling like gas, a 3-year-old getting rashes and fevers from drinking the well water and fear of dryers exploding.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Everything stays organized, contained, and smelling fresh, which somehow makes unpacking (and repacking) far less painful.
—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
26 June 2026
But to keep your rug looking (and smelling) fresh, here are some of our go-tos.
—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
26 June 2026
Tough and compact, standing at 4 feet tall, these gorgeous roses ensure a sweet-smelling and visually appealing presence.
—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
But as the fire continued, Monterey Park residents reported seeing and smelling smoke in the area.
—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelling
Verb
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Musk and SpaceX have a true nose for money, including sniffing out government infusions and contracts.
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The streamer on June 8 dropped an adorable photo of the real Great Dane puppy, as well as a brief teaser video that shows Scooby-Doo sniffing around in the woods before being picked up by Shaggy.
Verb
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These include the Type 91 surface-to-air missile barge, Type 92 underwater sensing vessel, Type 93 autonomous submarine, and Type 94 surface sensing vessel, all of which form part of the UK’s broader Hybrid Navy concept.
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This is one reason to go breadth-first across sensing modalities; doing so can help close the gap in appearance, sensors and kinematics between human and robot.
Verb
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Two cherry pickers, with seven workers dressed in full blue protective gear, including ventilation masks, were wielding the kind of vacuum machines designed for asbestos management, sucking the nests from branches roughly 20 meters (65 feet) off the ground.
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National Park Service workers in waders were sucking up the dead algae strewed along the bottom Wednesday.
Verb
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Typically, hantavirus spreads by inhaling particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of wild rodents.
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Take 30 to 40 deep cyclical breaths, inhaling fully into the belly and chest, exhaling without force.
Verb
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Persistent fatigue despite adequate sleep, dizziness, breathlessness, brain fog, low mood, brittle nails, hair fall, feeling unusually cold, and changes in skin quality all signal low ferritin levels.
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In India, feeling that one's work improves others' lives carries more weight than in most countries.
Verb
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The journey in seeing a friend’s city anew becomes another way of seeing home.
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On June 9, witnesses reported seeing a man start a small brush fire in a field behind the Wal-Mart on Camino Arroyo, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Verb
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On Election Day, Schlossberg was campaigning out in the rain despite the concerning polls, hearing stories from passersby about their Kennedy encounters over the years and taking selfies with starstruck supporters.
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Some travel from other parts of Minnesota after hearing about the fundraiser through friends or social media.
Verb
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By midsummer, many homeowners begin noticing plants popping up where their lawns have thinned.
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The Property Brothers star, 48, got candid about previously letting his work bleed too much into his home life, to the point where his 4-year-old son, Parker, started noticing.
Cite this Entry
“Smelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelling. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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