to sniff out

Examples

• All

• A recent study found that dogs can sniff out when humans are stressed, building off earlier research that found dogs might be able to tell when a person is happy or fearful.

  Sabine Hossenfelder

• There are so many watchdogs out there, sniffing out unethical practices among agents.

  Blog text (32)

• See if we can sniff out anything suspicious.

  Paddington 2 (2017)

• The readers, I think, will sniff out good books, whatever the subject.

  Academic text (2010)

• The U.S. forces that arrived in Haiti in 1994 brought dogs trained to sniff out weapons.

  Academic text (1996)

• In traditional Search and Rescue work, trained search dogs sniff out missing people following each person's distinctive scent.

  Blog text (17)

• I think, I think that especially teenagers, they can sniff out ulterior motives or if you're not being genuine.

  Dad Saves America

• The nostrils at the tip of their long beak enable the birds to sniff out soil-dwelling prey.

  Academic text (1993)

• The specially trained dog can sniff out drugs that are hidden in the luggage.

• Investigators used bloodhounds to sniff out evidence at the crime scene.

Synonyms

P

to pick up

vsto sniff out

∞ 2.6

To learn or notice something often by chance

usually involves an active search or sensory tracking

S

to smell

vsto sniff out

∞ 1.0

To notice a scent with your nose

is an active search to discover rather than simple perception

D

to detect

vsto sniff out

763 3.2

Find something that is hard to notice

adds a tactile scent or investigative search element to simple discovery

D

to discern

vsto sniff out

70 5.8

To notice something that is hard to see or hear

uses more direct sensory or searching action rather than careful judgment

P

to pick out

vsto sniff out

64 3.0

Notice a sound or sight among other things

focuses more on finding than on distinguishing within a group

S

to spy

vsto sniff out

40 3.1

To notice something suddenly or after looking for it

uses smell or active investigation rather than visual noticing

G

to get a whiff

vsto sniff out

11 4.7

Smell something briefly, often a strong scent

refers to actively seeking out or detecting rather than a quick notice

S

to scent

vsto sniff out

5 3.5

To use the sense of smell to find something, often by animals

is broader, including searching or investigating by any means

C

to catch a whiff

vsto sniff out

4 5.1

To notice a small smell of something for a short time

involves a fuller search to discover rather than a brief hint

N

to nose

vsto sniff out

3 5.0

To find something by sniffing around

is similar but also applies to more general searching methods

S

to snuff

vsto sniff out

• Archaic

3 7.9

To smell something quickly to see what it is

is more about finding or detecting rather than casual curious smelling

S

to smell out

vsto sniff out

2 5.1

Find something hidden by noticing small signs

relies more on literal sensory or active searching rather than just intuition

N

to nose out

vsto sniff out

• Informal

1 6.9

Find something after careful searching

adds a sensory sense emphasis that the linked concept may lack

S

to scent out

vsto sniff out

5.6

To find something by smell or by careful searching

includes that but also covers non-odor based investigation

Antonyms

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Thorough

to uncover

243 3.5

to sniff out

• Informal

15 4.0

to detect

763 3.2

to spot

576 2.1

to notice

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology