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Synonyms

sniff out

British  

verb

  1. (tr, adverb) to detect through shrewdness or instinct

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sniff out Idioms  
  1. Uncover, as If there's anything to that rumor, Gladys will sniff it out. This expression alludes to an animal sniffing for prey. [First half of 1900s]


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.

Officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan was to right-size the staff and introduce more technology to sniff out unpaid tax bills.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

Villarreal: We know Elsbeth as this person with a keen ability to read people, who can sniff out liars, murderers.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

The e-noses can sniff out the unique signatures of volatile organic compounds not only in the breath, but in excretions like sweat or urine, and have AI quickly identify them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Danoff’s long success was due in part to his ability to sniff out large growth companies early and ride them for years of gains.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

She likes to sniff out joy and squash it like a house spider.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

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