sigh 1 of 2

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

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sigh

2 of 2

noun

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
Verb
Austin leaders let out a sigh of relief Wednesday afternoon following the rescinding of a memo from the Trump administration calling for a freeze of federal funding — a move that could have put hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of local projects and programs in jeopardy. Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025 The carnage leads to a sigh of an epilogue that seems, without giving anything away, like a curious letdown, a cruel little snicker from Aster that doesn’t entirely satisfy. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 July 2025
Noun
The other migrants in the elevator looked at one another and sighed. Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 25 July 2025 Dexter makes some judgmental asides about his co-workers, Dexter struggles to understand social norms, Dexter sighs in relief at biting into a Cubano. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sigh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sigh
Verb
  • According to multiple witness accounts, Black groaned, gasped and appeared to be in visible distress during the execution.
    Christina Coulter, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The soundtrack to it all included enough cracking to keep the audience and judges cringing and gasping.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Sunday night, Trent Reznor opened the first Nine Inch Nails concert in the metro in a dozen years with a whisper, not a scream.
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Trump sent his former lawyer, now deputy attorney general, to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, who was then summarily transferred to Club Fed amid whispers of a possible pardon.
    Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The hugs stop and the arguments, the phone obsession, and the huffing cold shoulder starts.
    Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
  • The trail huffs up 1,000 feet per mile, traversing talus slopes and narrow ridgelines en route to a dizzying view of Yellowstone Lake.
    Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • So other than snoring, there wasn’t a murmur going along.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The clank of armor, the murmurs of courtiers, and the soft glow of candlelight transform the castle into a truly immersive time capsule.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Larger particulates in the air can irritate our eyes, nose, and throat, causing a persistent cough and difficulty breathing.
    Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Wei started experiencing difficulty breathing, especially after spraying the chemicals.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • They can be snorted, smoked, injected or taken orally.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Osbourne's outrageous behavior became legend—biting the heads off a dove and a bat, snorting ants, and urinating on the Alamo while wearing his wife's dress.
    Amanda Castro Gabe Whisnant Anna Commander Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • Many dogs have been trained to sniff out certain things.
    Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The footage shows the new mom leaving the hospital with Stevie in her buggy, before showing the eager dogs trying to sniff and kiss the newborn.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Brandon swings his head up and to the left, a moan escaping his lips.
    Scott Craven, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025
  • Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.
    Scott Craven, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sigh. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.

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