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hiss

verb
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\ ˈhis How to pronounce hiss (audio) \
hissed; hissing; hisses

Definition of hiss

intransitive verb

: to make a sharp sibilant sound the crowd hissed in disapproval hissing steam

transitive verb

1 : to express disapproval of by hissing hissed the performers off the stage
2 : to utter or whisper angrily or threateningly and with a hiss
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Other Words from hiss

hiss noun
hisser noun

Synonyms for hiss

Synonyms

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Examples of hiss in a Sentence

The radiator hissed as it let off steam. The audience hissed him off the stage. “Leave me alone!” he hissed.
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Recent Examples on the Web One painful memory of mine from the summer of 2018—of an encounter with a rabid harasser who hissed threatening insults at me at the San Francisco Airport—has returned to haunt me. — Jiwei Xiao, The New York Review of Books, "Fearing For My Mother in Wuhan, Facing a New Sinophobia in the US," 6 Apr. 2020 There was blood on the floor, the otter was hissing, and my daughter was screaming. — Kathy Leigh Berkowitz, USA TODAY, "Mom plays hero as otter attacks dog, bites girl in Florida home: 'Anything to save my kid'," 17 Feb. 2020 Some booed and hissed while others stood beside them and clapped because, well, capitalism. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "Trump’s comeback-kid State of the Union address was designed to trap Democrats," 4 Feb. 2020 Throughout the address, Democrats booed and hissed. — Paul Cobler, Dallas News, "‘Appalling and shameful’: Rep. Kay Granger leads GOP effort to condemn Pelosi for tearing SOTU copy," 6 Feb. 2020 My concerns began when our cat started hissing at an empty corner. — Beth Spotswood, SFChronicle.com, "If you’re looking for ghosts, you might find them," 15 Jan. 2020 The crowd hissed and yelled as an older man tried to break the line. — José De Córdoba, WSJ, "Cuba Ration Lines Grow Tense as Economy Flails," 21 June 2019 Inside the factory, hissing machines make a music of their own, stamping and spitting out their wooden parts. — The Economist, "How China made the piano its own," 18 Dec. 2019 There’s a film noir quality about these artists, simple, disheveled scenes with steam hissing out of them. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, "Edith Halpert and American Modernism," 14 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hiss.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hiss

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for hiss

Middle English, of imitative origin

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Time Traveler for hiss

Time Traveler

The first known use of hiss was in the 14th century

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Statistics for hiss

Last Updated

21 Apr 2020

Cite this Entry

“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hiss. Accessed 2 Jun. 2020.

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More Definitions for hiss

hiss

verb
How to pronounce hiss (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hiss

: to produce a sound like a long "s" : to make a hiss
: to show that you dislike or disapprove of someone (such as a performer or speaker) by making a hiss
: to say (something) in a loud or angry whisper

See the full definition for hiss in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hiss

verb
\ ˈhis How to pronounce hiss (audio) \
hissed; hissing

Kids Definition of hiss

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to make a sound like a long \s\ The creature hissed and hot flame shot from its mouth.— Mary Pope Osborne, Christmas in Camelot
2 : to show dislike or disapproval by hissing
3 : to say (something) in a loud or angry whisper “Keep your voice down!” he hissed.

hiss

noun

Kids Definition of hiss (Entry 2 of 2)

: a sound like a long \s\ sometimes used as a sign of dislike or disapproval the hiss of steam The hiss from the audience became louder.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hiss

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hiss

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with hiss

Spanish Central: Translation of hiss

Nglish: Translation of hiss for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of hiss for Arabic Speakers

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