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
That calmness, however, was soon overtaken by the kitchen, with the hiss of the pans, stir of the pots and sharp calls exchanged between cooks quickly filling the air, along with the sounds of an upbeat Peruvian song playing in the background. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025 The first meeting resulted in a hiss from Miriam, but after a few days, the two are obsessed. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
As always, the kittens will be hissing from a luxury suite a safe distance away from the action. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026 Ken Johnson, the homeowner, said Monday that the bear has been growling and hissing, terrifying him and his cat. Nbc Los Angeles, NBC news, 2 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiss
Noun
  • These include a bottle opener, whistle, magnifier, compass, spoke wrench, and a hex wrench for tightening loose bolts.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Jan. 2026
  • This week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sought to blow the whistle in a big way by calling for action in a speech to the National Press Club in Washington.
    David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 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
  • During that same 2021 interview, Rieder downplayed inflation concerns bubbling up at the time.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • These colleges were places where ideas were bubbling up, where curiosity was alive, and where something important was quietly forming.
    Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • McDonald’s is spreading a little festive sneer this holiday season with the release of a brand-new menu inspired by Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
  • Burnett tried several versions in a row: first deadpan, then with a sneer of sarcasm, pursing her lips in judgment.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Tis a truth universally acknowledged that in the second week of January, resolutions made in earnest over champagne toasts fizzle out like fireworks.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
  • When Garcia died three decades ago, the legacy of the band could have fizzled.
    Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The bus drivers do nothing to enforce the rules, and we seniors are left trudging down the bus aisle while the people in the seats smirk, look at their phones and talk to each other.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
  • In the video, Castela sings these words with a knowing smirk.
    Carolina Abbott Galvão, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Fill a bowl or sink with water, add a drop of fabric softener, and swish it around.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
  • My child attended daycare and summer programs at Pillsbury United Communities center just four blocks away, where a multiracial cohort of kids happily play through the winter, swishing around in bulky jackets and snow pants, bouncing towards their parents.
    Bao Phi, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The approach generated attention but also resistance in the form of boos, walkouts and early exits.
    Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The mesh panels provide a peek-a-boo effect to the heels, showing a small glimpse of the foot.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiss. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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