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Showing results for sniff at. Search instead for sniffs at.
Definitions

sniff at

VERB
sneer
Synonyms
STRONGEST
belittle deride grin jeer scoff taunt
STRONG
affront burlesque caricature crack decry detract disdain disparage dump fleer flout gibe gird insult jest lampoon leer rally ridicule satirize scorn slam slight smile snigger swipe travesty twit underrate
WEAK
curl one's lip at give Bronx cheer hold in contempt hold up to ridicule laugh at look down on put down quip at rank out sneeze at turn up one's nose
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compliment praise
STRONG
admire applaud approve commend flatter laud respect
VERB
snigger
Synonyms
STRONG
affront belittle burlesque caricature crack decry deride detract disdain disparage dump fleer flout gibe gird grin insult jeer jest lampoon leer rally ridicule satirize scoff scorn slam slight smile snicker swipe taunt travesty twit underrate
WEAK
curl one's lip give Bronx cheer hold in contempt hold up to ridicule laugh at look down on put down quip at rank out sneeze at turn up one's nose
Antonyms
STRONG
admire applaud approve commend compliment exaggerate flatter laud praise respect weaken
VERB
thumb one's nose
Synonyms
WEAK
deride disparage ridicule sneeze at

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.

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

It was about 8:30 p.m. when the spotted beast appeared and stopped to sniff at mountain lion scat before opening its jaw.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024

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

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2022

We are quite uppish and sniff at the tinned stuff in the supply dump, we want fresh vegetables.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.