as in to gasp
to take in and let out a deep audible breath or to make a similar sound
Mom always used to sigh loudly whenever she found a mess on the floor—which was often a breeze sighed through the leaves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sigh
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
Short in stature and wearing a blue apron, Gongora let out a big sigh and cried, using her fingers to wipe her tears.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 June 2025
If the tariffs are off again by September, Apple will sigh with relief.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sigh
Verb
Lorde then disoriented her audience with 2021’s Solar Power, a warm sigh of an album from a star enjoying some well-deserved relaxation.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
Short in stature and wearing a blue apron, Gongora let out a big sigh and cried, using her fingers to wipe her tears.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Noun
Before immediately snapping, sighing loudly, or muttering a passive-aggressive comment, try pausing to consider what else might be going on first: Maybe your barista’s slammed with 10 other complicated orders, for instance, or your housemate had a brutal week at work.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 June 2025
If the tariffs are off again by September, Apple will sigh with relief.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sigh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sigh
Verb
-
Breathing difficulties: The shock of sudden cold-water exposure can cause bouts of wheezing, gasping, and rapid breathing (hyperventilating).—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
9 July 2025
-
Symptoms include snoring, gasping during sleep, waking up tired and difficulty falling or staying asleep Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) This condition is caused by the inflammatory proteins that are present in both psoriasis and metabolic syndrome, Dupati says.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
The whispers grow louder as the beeping becomes more frequent until finally, the alarm sounds.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
-
On LinkedIn, whispers of stealth layoffs and hiring freezes are growing louder.—
Andrew Fennell,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Scientists published fresh data showing that huffing carbon monoxide could boost endurance.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
2 June 2025
-
Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace seem to have huffed an entire boxed set of Friday Night Lights before sitting down to brainstorm Landman.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
In an era when artists like Hendrix, The Who and The Rolling Stones were bending the world with sheer sonic force, Drake’s songs felt like murmurs lost in the storm.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
5 July 2025
-
Yet, despite these strengths, there were murmurs that VidCon’s influence may be waning in some circles, with fewer brand booths and less corporate luster.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Visitors become part of the piece, surrounded by a living, breathing sculpture of movement, light and sound.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
-
The agency warns that breathing high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can irritate the respiratory system and worsen conditions like asthma, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Mendoza-Gonzalez said Bos had come to his home in the 700 block of Yeoman Street on Feb. 19, and sometime that night had snorted some sort of a drug.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Mohammed's character Hugh has to snort cocaine during the trio's initial meeting with the gangster Fly (Paddy Considine) to prove that the trio aren't posers.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
Toronto’s starting catcher regressed to normalcy, hitting .251 in 2023 and 2024, not sniffing double-digit homers or an above-average OPS.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
-
After the participants sniffed the odor pens, the researchers showed them pictures that corresponded to each one.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
-
Suffice to say, the 2025 Cannes market will be filled with even more groans on moans than years past.—
Elsa Ramo,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sigh. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share