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Definitions

sniff at



VERB
thumb one's nose
Synonyms


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:

This is the evidence Robinson believes can be England's X-factor at the World Cup, irrespective of those "purists" who may sniff at such an approach.

From BBC Mar. 27, 2026

So in the interest of self-improvement, I open my pack of what look like markers and sniff at them one by one.

From Salon Jan. 5, 2025

The child of today, spoiled for choice in targeted programming, might sniff at the old shows, but a CGI “Pufnstuf,” which happily no one has proposed, would be all but pointless, and potentially depressing.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 27, 2023

Stray dogs wander across a disused dry dock and sniff at piles of rusted metal.

From New York Times Aug. 19, 2022

The Incorrigible children slid more gracefully off their mounts and began to sniff at the air, while the three smaller wolves ran in tight circles, whimpering and skimming their muzzles along the ground.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood




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