1
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hiss
Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
Besides the wind and the hiss of the dust, Lorenz says, there was a brief sound of a snap or crack in the middle of the encounter.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 26 Nov. 2025
Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
The beef is tender with bits of fat — the kind of fat that renders and drips on the glowing coals causing the grill to hiss like an agitated cobra.
—Andre James, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hiss
Noun
The clink of cutlery and the hiss of the grill, the clouds of steam rising off plates, the heady chaos that comes with a place of public convening, a destination as much as a place of transience.
—Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
Besides the wind and the hiss of the dust, Lorenz says, there was a brief sound of a snap or crack in the middle of the encounter.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 26 Nov. 2025
Verb
Rising from the center of the bay is a Star Wars-style cockpit, neon-lit and hissing as the door opens to reveal a dashboard equipped with self-flying software.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
The beef is tender with bits of fat — the kind of fat that renders and drips on the glowing coals causing the grill to hiss like an agitated cobra.
—Andre James, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiss
Noun
-
In the franchise’s inaugural game on March 14 in San Jose, a flurry of impressive saves kept Denver in it until the final whistle, despite the club playing a woman down for most of the match after Janine Sonis was sent off in the 26th minute.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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Nonetheless, in 1971, a California Democratic congressman named Phil Burton blew the whistle after the fact, reading the secret Justice Department memo into the Congressional Record.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Soon come the snorts, the heavy body of a second hog tottering heavily from the hut.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 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
Verb
-
Pour in egg mixture and immediately stir with a heatproof rubber spatula, incorporating ham and gently agitating eggs, and running it along edges until sides begin to bubble, about 30 seconds.—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Plus, bubbling beneath all of that is what the Angels believe is a pool of young arms ready to burst onto the scene.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Valarr asks Ser Duncan with a sneer.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This was always the case, but has only recently garnered more attention as the buzz around a potential deal began to fizzle after the combine.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
-
With the ball at her feet and one defender to beat, Summit FC center back Kaleigh Kurtz shadowed her to perfection and held on long enough for her teammates to get back in support, and the play fizzled out.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gates, no relation to Antonio, offers a shrug and a smirk.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Yet Lili Reinhart plays her with a diamond-hard smirk and a gleam of perception that lights up the screen.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer's pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.—
Noah Trister,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After Buchbinder was helped off the ice by teammates, no penalties were called by the refs, which were met with a chorus of boos from fans.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Longhorns won at Dayton’s UD Arena where the entire joint was immersed in Miller hate over the Dayton-Xavier rivalry and reigned boos upon him and former Musketeer Dailyn Swain and supported North Carolina State.—
Kirk Bohls,
Houston Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiss. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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