HISS Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

hiss 1 of 2

noun

Definition of hiss

as in whistle

a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the hiss of air escaping from a balloon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in snort

a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval there was a chorus of boos and hisses from the fans when the umpire called the runner out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hiss

2 of 2

verb

ˈhis

as in to bubble

to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ the frightened kitten hissed at us when we tried to pick it up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 hiss

Noun

Workers load stacks of textiles onto belts that move them through the scanner, which emits a sharp hiss while reading the textiles’ composition. — Tian MacLeod Ji, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026 The sounds of a bustling cafe—the hiss of the espresso machine or the clinking of plates—are incredibly grounding and build a sensory connection with the viewer. — Lisa Montenegro, Forbes.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Verb

Then a hissing arrow pins a golden soccer ball to the Clash of Clans escutcheon. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026 There’s plenty of feline choreography, like crawling, meowing, and hissing. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hiss

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiss

Noun

Each time assistant coach Pablo de la Torre, the fitness specialist, blew his whistle, the players had to sprint to the far end of the pitch and back again before the rondos resumed.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
One of them, a shorter, bearded man with a nose reddened and swollen from years of abusing liquor, gave a low whistle.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

Definition of whistle

Noun

The class had been quiet after the camp text, but now there was at least one snort.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025

Definition of snort

Noun

The film’s sincerity — the quality critics praised most — was met with a sneer rather than a response.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
With his rakish sneer and ruthlessly tight jodhpurs, Rupert has been thoroughly neutered with irony, transformed into an object for women to pick at.

— Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

Definition of sneer

Verb

Before he was from20, Kim Raehwan was known simply as Raehwan and the main vocalist of BIGSTAR, a boy band under hitmaker Brave Brothers’ Brave Entertainment agency that slowly fizzled out after years inactive.

— Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Those two storylines – Aiyuk’s bizarre estrangement since last September, and a conspiracy theory about players’ injuries linked to an electromagnetic field – should fizzle out as a new season arrives.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 July 2026

Definition of fizzle

Noun

Orlando Bloom flashes a shirtless smirk while on vacation in Marmi, Italy on July 26.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
His trademark smirk and knowing stare are now feared by any opponent up against Norway, but don’t be fooled into thinking Haaland isn’t serious about his career.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Definition of smirk

Verb

Waiters swished past with little pots of lemon sorbet and glasses of Sprankel, a sparkling wine from Babylonstoren, Roos and Bekker’s farm and hotel in South Africa’s Franschhoek wine valley.

— Mary Holland, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026
Rinse the blueberries under cold running water, gently swishing them around with your hands to ensure all the berries are exposed to water.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026

Definition of swish

Noun

An efficient steward initially stopped his progress to the sound of loud boos from the 5,289 spectators who had paid $A15 (£8; $10) for the privilege to attend.

— Simon Johnson, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Trump’s appearance during Spain’s celebration earned boos from the stadium.

— Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026

Definition of boo

Browse Nearby Words

hirsute

hiss

hissed

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Style

“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiss. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hiss

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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