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Definitions

sniff

[snif] / snɪf /
VERB
breathe in
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK
hold nose


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.

See Examples For:

I worry about how A.I. writing and efforts to sniff it out are changing fully human writing.

From Slate Aug. 18, 2026

The Scotland national team are two games into their World Cup campaign and there has not been a sniff of a bicycle kick anywhere.

From BBC Jun. 20, 2026

Officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan was to right-size the staff and introduce more technology to sniff out unpaid tax bills.

From MarketWatch Jun. 5, 2026

We put their products—and others—to a sniff test.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 3, 2026

I gave a big sniff and a big gulp.

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones

The firm uses computer-driven strategies to trade based on patterns and signals it sniffs out in markets and big data sets.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 1, 2026

He has his morning cup of coffee out there while Daisy sniffs around, works her guard duty shifts, and takes in the million-dollar view, which stretches all the way to Santa Catalina Island.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 27, 2025

Before long, Gaga’s version of her wicked queen sniffs out her prey.

From Salon Apr. 16, 2025

He sidles up, sniffs one of the vehicles, then jumps up and plants two giant paws up on the side of the buggy.

From BBC Dec. 17, 2024

Fifi sniffs it, grabs it, then runs into the other room.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

The New York Times eventually sniffed out the backroom deal.

From Salon Aug. 3, 2026

They haven’t sniffed the playoffs since while undergoing seemingly constant leadership changes that have allowed their culture to slowly rot.

From Los Angeles Times May 31, 2026

He sniffed out most of the fakes right away.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 16, 2026

A reviewer in Britain's Guardian newspaper sniffed that "an undeniable strain of sentimentalism runs throughout" the book and its prose.

From Barron's Feb. 6, 2026

Sue still frowned with pain, but she sniffed and stood up a little straighter.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

When Hindenburg Omens occur in clusters, they tend to be more effective at sniffing out near-term weakness.

From MarketWatch Aug. 15, 2026

As part of the response, the US is stationing dogs capable of sniffing out screwworms at the borders.

From BBC Jun. 5, 2026

He spent a full minute sniffing my legs and shoes, after coming up to Viana to be petted.

From Slate May 27, 2026

Sheriff’s deputies credit two K-9s with saving a life after sniffing out a missing woman who had fallen 200 feet down a steep ravine in the San Bernardino Mountains, officials say.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 24, 2026

Sure enough, Woo is on the deck now, sniffing the other mmoatia.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer




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