smelling salts

NOUN

faintness relief

Synonyms

WEAK

Methedrine ammonium carbonate hartshorn methamphetamine hydrochloride sal volatile salts spirits

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ahead of the 2025 season, the league’s head, neck and spine committee recommended that teams end the longtime practice of providing smelling salts to players.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2026

“The use of smelling salts in sports is definitely not their intended use,” Dr. Laura Boxley, a neuropsychologist at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, told NPR.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2026

The NFL came to his rescue, saying smelling salts — also known as ammonia inhalants, or AIs — were not banned.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2026

However, in a memo to their teams, obtained by the Associated Press,, external the NFL warned smelling salts also "have the potential to mask certain neurological signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion".

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2025

To see it in person was just as shocking on my system as a whiff of smelling salts.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros