hiss 1 of 2

Definition of hissnext
1
as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the hiss of air escaping from a balloon

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hiss

2 of 2

verb

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

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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
The hiss of our skis seemed louder and crisper with no one else around. Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026 Clearing right-of-way strips can result in the loss of trees and native vegetation; crackles, hisses and humming can be heard nearby especially during periods of high humidity; and farm fields and animal habitat can be affected by construction activities. Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
Mature geese have kept a close eye on the eggs, occasionally honking and hissing at those who have approached. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026 He was later woken up by a hissing sound and noticed a flame on the floor of his bedroom. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiss
Noun
  • In this game, the buzzer represents the whistle of a foul-calling referee.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
  • Spirits remained high amongst the home crowd as the whistle blew for the second half, considering Sarasota had scored just nine goals in 11 league games before Wednesday night.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • On a night when Lee somehow turned a 73.2 mph snort into a home run, Chapman staged another losing battle while hoping for a conventional one.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • My wife, meanwhile, guards against the occasional loud snort with one of the oldest and most elegant anti-snoring technologies ever devised: earplugs.
    Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Money tensions, or themes around intimacy and control could bubble up.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
  • Then, the monotony of the cave’s silence was broken by the sound of splashing as two divers with headlamps bubbled up from beneath the water.
    Janis Mackey Frayer, NBC news, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • While some celebrants have greeted these caricatures with cathartic jeers and sneers, others are shocked and outraged.
    Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • The rally fizzled without a run.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026
  • The trouble was Genesis’s EV-centric plan fizzled out as sales stalled, while Europeans stayed wedded to the German monopoly.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • An elderly man offered a smirk for his mugshot after being arrested in a caught-on-camera hit-and-run involving a cyclist group.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
  • The prospect of doing it again with even larger stakes brought an excited smirk to Smart’s face.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In other words, avoid swishing seltzers in your mouth, drinking a lot of them or even sipping one throughout the day.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
  • When the video screen showed Caruso, the rabid Thunder fans doubled their volume, as if a game-winning buzzer-beater had just swished.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Slot, who was the target of boos and jeers at the penultimate home game against Chelsea, has lost plenty of support among the fanbase and a growing number are calling for him to be replaced.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • And while Reddick is the first to admit there were days in which Busch seemed like the enemy out on the track and received his share of boos from the fans throughout the years, those boos had been slowly transitioning into cheers over the past few years.
    Tricia Despres, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiss. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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