as in bubbling
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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Recent Examples of hissing
Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
According to a blog post from The Spruce Pets, a new kitten can cause a lot of stress for an older cat, leading to behaviors like hissing, reclusiveness or even a sudden change in eating habits.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Contractors working on a sewer project on the 4600 block of 10th Avenue at Stockton Boulevard reported hearing a hissing sound coming from a 2-inch gas line, according to authorities.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
But on a recent warm September morning, the rhythmic beat of jackhammers crushing concrete with steel and the hissing flow of rush hour traffic greeted a group of amateur ornithologists.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
Initially Mila can be seen hissing at Fifi, just for being near her.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
In 2021, scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore turned Madagascar hissing cockroaches into cyborgs, implanting electrodes in sensory organs known as cerci that were then connected to tiny computers.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
While Hood said his breathing was restricted, and the plexiglass quickly fogged, air was heard hissing in past the mask's silicone seal.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2025
Putting it simply, cyborg insects typically consist of a large-ish insect – often a Madagascar hissing cockroach – that has been equipped with a small electronic backpack.
—New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
The chopper lands with a gentle thump on the black tarmac, rotors hissing for several more seconds in a steady thrum before fading into silence.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
Steam was rising out of the hissing showers nearby, and there was Josh Allen slumped on a stool in front of his locker, looking like a club fighter from Jersey who had picked the wrong opponent for a payday.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
According to a blog post from The Spruce Pets, a new kitten can cause a lot of stress for an older cat, leading to behaviors like hissing, reclusiveness or even a sudden change in eating habits.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
Splinter after splinter flopping onto the stone threshold, tsss, tsss, hissing like a nest of vipers.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Contractors working on a sewer project on the 4600 block of 10th Avenue at Stockton Boulevard reported hearing a hissing sound coming from a 2-inch gas line, according to authorities.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
But on a recent warm September morning, the rhythmic beat of jackhammers crushing concrete with steel and the hissing flow of rush hour traffic greeted a group of amateur ornithologists.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
Initially Mila can be seen hissing at Fifi, just for being near her.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
In 2021, scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore turned Madagascar hissing cockroaches into cyborgs, implanting electrodes in sensory organs known as cerci that were then connected to tiny computers.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
While Hood said his breathing was restricted, and the plexiglass quickly fogged, air was heard hissing in past the mask's silicone seal.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2025
Putting it simply, cyborg insects typically consist of a large-ish insect – often a Madagascar hissing cockroach – that has been equipped with a small electronic backpack.
—New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
The chopper lands with a gentle thump on the black tarmac, rotors hissing for several more seconds in a steady thrum before fading into silence.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hissing
Verb
-
While your cider is reducing on the stove, your kitchen fills with the fragrance of warm spices and bubbling sugar.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Bake in preheated oven until cheese has melted and mixture is bubbling around edges, about 10 minutes.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One prominent Lions player wasn't a fan of the booing, however.—
Christian Romo,
Freep.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Which could explain some of the booing.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
7 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
-
After the final whistle, the main source of frustration for the Forest hierarchy was the performance of the match officials.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Christmas, whistle notes, and not knowing Jennifer Lopez … Mariah Carey’s brand is nothing if not consistent.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Voyager 2, meanwhile, is whizzing at about 34,000 mph while 13 billion miles away.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The man appeared to be aiming for geese, the caller told police, but a few shots came dangerously close to the couple, with at least two bullets whizzing audibly just above the caller’s head, according to the outlet.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
15 Aug. 2025
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The single, meanwhile, is ushered in with a gripping bass line and an undercurrent of keyboards until Osbourne makes his grand vocal entrance, all sneers and snarls.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
LaRoche, watching from the sixth row, shot a smirk right back to her.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
John Lunn’s soaring score makes shots of Highclere Castle, which stands in for Downton Abbey, particularly magical; Anna Robbins’s luxurious costumes, all satin, lace, and brocade, are once again gorgeous; Nivola’s smirk is a welcome bit of Yankee attitude.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hissing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hissing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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