as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something
even a whiff of appreciation for everything I've done for her would have been nice
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whiff
Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2026
Just a whiff has some of the state’s wealthiest residents fleeing.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2026
NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
The Red Sox recently whiffed on Kyle Schwarber in free agency, which could turn up the heat on their front office.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whiff
Noun
There’s never a good time for these kinds of seasons, never a good time to miss out on the playoffs altogether, but, man, the Chiefs sure picked a bad time for their whiff.
—Verb
This is still like the administration whiffing on the Epstein files.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiff
Noun
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After you’re done cleaning up the kitchen or tackling tough stains around the house, a simple wash with oxygen bleach or a hint of chlorine bleach can make white towels look new again.—
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The mix of spices held a hint of spiciness, but still pretty flavorful and wasn’t overwhelming.—
Verb
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Horses that smelled the fear samples touched the experimenter less than those in a control group or those that smelled joyful sweat samples.—
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Stir in the flour until the mixture forms a roux and begins to smell toasted, about 1 minute.—
Noun
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For the first time in many years, there is a real glimmer of hope for government transparency in Florida.—
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From there, the glimmers of a more peaceful existence — one fueled by expression, not recklessness — give Lidia hope.—
Verb
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School can be an awful place, where social capital is built on a person’s acceptance by a group, and any difference is sniffed out and mocked, sometimes worse.—
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But a few Power 4 teams have sniffed around for a transfer quarterback and haven’t landed a commitment.—
Verb
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Football leans on tradition, providing convenient cover for the NFL’s lenient stance on smelling salts, ammonia crystals that players believe enhance performance when inhaled.—
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When inhaled, these particles enter the lungs and can then pass into the bloodstream, increasing people’s risk of heart disease and decreasing lung function.—
Cite this Entry
“Whiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiff. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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