smack of

phrasal verb

smacked of; smacking of; smacks of
: to seem to contain or involve (something unpleasant)
That suggestion smacks of hypocrisy.

Examples of smack of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Such comments smack of wishful thinking or self-rationalization. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 The smack of ají, a red chile, set off the freshness of each flavor. Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024 To argue that Proposition 47 is at fault is irresponsible, misleading and smacks of fear-mongering. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 Western powers should focus on not making things worse by, for example, trying to scare middle powers away from joining BRICS, which smacks of paternalism and quasi-colonial interference. Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for smack of 

Dictionary Entries Near smack of

Cite this Entry

“Smack of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smack%20of. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!