smelling

verb

present participle of smell
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

Relevance
2
as in sensing
to have a vague awareness of I smell something fishy about this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sucking
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory that movie smells—I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of smelling Dove adds that the skin’s microbiome shifts with hormonal changes, aging and lifestyle habits, which can lead to more odor-causing bacteria breaking down sweat into stronger-smelling compounds. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Ants line up and overrun a picnic through smelling a neighbor’s pheromones with their tiny antennae. — Michael Morris, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 On admission, the patient usually arrives well-groomed, smelling nice, well-nourished, and — above all — deeply loved by the caregiver who has devoted a large chunk of their life to their wellbeing. — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026 The deputy also reported smelling alcohol and marijuana, according to the Courier Journal. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 Redness, open sores, discharge, foul-smelling ears, lumps or recurring skin issues all warrant a vet visit, not a grooming session. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026 Redness, sores, unusual discharge, foul-smelling ears or lumps should all go to a vet rather than a home grooming session. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Removing a small number of the oldest stems will let the plant continue to grow in a balanced way, and can help your sweet-smelling vines resist winter wind. — The Spruce, 13 Sep. 2026 Toss the lemons into the washer and run a quick cycle with hot water to leave the machine shining and smelling fresh. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smelling
  1. sniffing
  2. sensing
  3. sucking
  4. inhaling
  5. feeling
  6. seeing
  7. hearing
  8. noticing
Verb
  • Alaniz then detained her for a drug-sniffing dog, which alerted to the vehicle.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
  • And security inside Alice Tully Hall, where the film premiered, was certainly tight—metal detectors, physical checks of bags, K9 bomb-sniffing dogs.
    — Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of sniffing
Verb
  • As defense shifts from traditional armor toward connected missile-defense grids and real-time targeting, its components become increasingly central to the weapons and sensing systems that make those networks work.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Its potential applications span communications, sensing, and electronic warfare.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensing
Verb
  • Deadline has established that several top producers have declined to throw their hat into the ring, with many citing concerns about the lack of rights and the production contract sucking creative energy away from other projects.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • But these middlemen have become bipartisan punching bags, accused of sucking up profits at the expense of employers, governments, and patients.
    — Blake Farmer, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of sucking
Verb
  • But some people abuse it by inhaling it to feel relaxed or euphoric.
    — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Tottenham attempted to offload Bissouma last summer, and the club later initiated another internal investigation after an image leaked of Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon again.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of inhaling
Verb
  • Dining here is fun, fresh, plentiful, and food is cooked to perfection—but also fuel for long game drives that will keep you feeling spritely, never weighed down.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • All together, her Paris party attire nods to the past without actually feeling retro.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of feeling
Verb
  • Machchhar said his daughter had come to visit him in hospital but got scared seeing him in his condition.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • There are few things more destabilizing than seeing an ex in the wild.
    — Eileen Kelly, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of seeing
Verb
  • The Supreme Court will open its new term Monday by hearing arguments on whether the oil and gas industry may be forced to pay damages for the scorching heat waves, wildfires and droughts that are blamed on climate change.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The controller was having trouble hearing the pilots and asked them to repeat their messages, including altitude, several times, according to the audio.
    — Anselm Gibbs, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of hearing
Verb
  • The student also described noticing bruising on her body the following day.
    — Jason Carroll, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Carr takes a beat to scan the field, no doubt noticing three corners in press and an extra safety creeping toward the line.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of noticing

Browse Nearby Words

smellers
smelling
smelling (of)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smelling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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