sniff at
phrasal verb
sniffed at; sniffing at; sniffs at
: to show dislike or disapproval of (something) especially because one thinks it is not important or worthy of respect
Some people sniff at the idea of using fake flowers.
It's not a big profit, but it's not to be sniffed at.
Your accomplishment is nothing to sniff at.
Examples of sniff at in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As for that sell-on clause, QPR won’t sniff at it.
—
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Some of them extended their trunks to the puddle of blood and sniffed at it.
—Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
For the record, T’s Mushroom & Swiss burger is nothing to sniff at, either.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 14 July 2025
Some of his old-guard fashion friends might have sniffed at the move, but Posen — who’s judged Project Runway, written a cookbook and designed for Hugo Boss — is unbothered.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
From left: Bruno the cat takes an interested sniff at a banana, before pulling back and making a disgusted face.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Some of them extended their trunks to the puddle of blood and sniffed at it.
—Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
For the record, T’s Mushroom & Swiss burger is nothing to sniff at, either.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 14 July 2025
Some of his old-guard fashion friends might have sniffed at the move, but Posen — who’s judged Project Runway, written a cookbook and designed for Hugo Boss — is unbothered.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
From left: Bruno the cat takes an interested sniff at a banana, before pulling back and making a disgusted face.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sniff at.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sniff%20at. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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