a slight gust or puff of wind, a brief odor carried in the air, a trace or hint of something

whiff of grapeshot, whiff out, whiff of nostalgia

Formal and Informal Expressions of whiff

In different contexts, you can replace 'whiff' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'trace, hint' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'smell, scent' is a commonplace synonym.

whiff: Explore its Definition & Usage

whiff Definition

1a slight gust or puff of wind
2a brief odor carried in the air
3a trace or hint of something

Using whiff: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "whiff" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
A whiff of fresh air came through the window.
Example
I caught a whiff of perfume as she walked by.
Example
There was a whiff of scandal surrounding the politician.
Example
The chef took a whiff of the soup to check the seasoning.

whiff Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for whiff

Antonyms for whiff

Phrases with whiff

whiff of grapeshot
a minor setback or defeat that serves as a warning of a larger one to come
Example
The company's recent financial losses were just a whiff of grapeshot compared to what's coming.
whiff out
to detect or discover something by smell
Example
The dog was able to whiff out the drugs hidden in the car.
whiff of nostalgia
a feeling of longing or wistfulness for a past time or experience
Example
Hearing that song always gives me a whiff of nostalgia for my college days.

Origins of whiff

from Middle Dutch 'wiven', meaning 'to move quickly'

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Summary: whiff in Brief

The term 'whiff' [hwif, wif] refers to a slight gust or puff of wind, a brief odor carried in the air, or a trace or hint of something. It can be used in phrases like 'whiff of scandal' and 'whiff of nostalgia.' 'Whiff out' means to detect something by smell. 'Whiff of grapeshot' refers to a minor setback or defeat that serves as a warning of a larger one to come.