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
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 
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.
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 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share