ahem
interjection
a throat-clearing sound; often read as
ə-ˈhem 
—used especially to attract attention or to express disapproval or embarrassment
Examples of ahem in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That might be overstating things a bit (especially for a few coaches, ahem, Jim Harbaugh).
—
Austin Mock, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Congressional races, of course, will serve as a referendum on Trump 2.0, which has been considerably more, ahem, intense than the early stages of Trump’s first presidency.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
After The Housemaid, ahem, cleaned up at the box office, the studio behind Paul Feig’s twisty thriller starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney wasted no time announcing a follow-up.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
Everyone’s favorite cousin (ahem, Keke Palmer), has officially lost the plot y’all.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 6 Jan. 2026
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Austin Mock, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Congressional races, of course, will serve as a referendum on Trump 2.0, which has been considerably more, ahem, intense than the early stages of Trump’s first presidency.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
After The Housemaid, ahem, cleaned up at the box office, the studio behind Paul Feig’s twisty thriller starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney wasted no time announcing a follow-up.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
Everyone’s favorite cousin (ahem, Keke Palmer), has officially lost the plot y’all.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ahem
Cite this Entry
“Ahem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ahem. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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