This was no mere whiff of demonic presence at a distance, but the awful thing itself.

They add a mere whiff of novelty to the holiday staples.

Consequently, we must be happy with the merest whiff of past indiscretions.

The merest whiff of cigar smoke brings him back to me.

Investors, they said, seemed to be unusually quick to abandon the company on a mere whiff of bad news.

They may gag at the mere whiff of common smells, or cry out when touched.

Despite the merest whiff of hype,it really is a great and unusual novel.

Among mice, the merest whiff of a male can have a devastating effect.

But at the mere whiff of yielding to desire or ambition, he goes up like a rocket.

In texture and flavor, it was a mere whiff.