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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hissing
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
At one point, he was seen walking toward an SUV's rear passenger side tire when agents heard a pop and a loud hissing noise.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Signs that a battery is about to fail include swelling, hissing, popping, an unusual odor and excessive heat, according to a New York Division of Homeland Security battery consumer guide.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
And there’s a constant hissing noise around it.
—JSTOR Daily, 25 Nov. 2025
Noise of trees crackling and sap hissing, branches thumping down, timber being dragged and chopped.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Elsa Lanchester’s performance as the hissing, glamorous Bride — which was inspired, in part, by swans at the zoo — is fabulous as well, making a legendary impression with only seven minutes of screen time.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
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
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
This might be as simple as a public argument – hissing whispers in an elevator.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
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
This behavior may include stamping its feet, raising its tail, or hissing.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Growling, hissing and swiping, Scooter charged at a glass door, holding its ground as the bears lingered just outside.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Then there's hissing through the air vents.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
There was no explosion, no frantic hissing, or toxic plume.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
At one point, he was seen walking toward an SUV's rear passenger side tire when agents heard a pop and a loud hissing noise.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Signs that a battery is about to fail include swelling, hissing, popping, an unusual odor and excessive heat, according to a New York Division of Homeland Security battery consumer guide.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
And there’s a constant hissing noise around it.
—JSTOR Daily, 25 Nov. 2025
Noise of trees crackling and sap hissing, branches thumping down, timber being dragged and chopped.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Elsa Lanchester’s performance as the hissing, glamorous Bride — which was inspired, in part, by swans at the zoo — is fabulous as well, making a legendary impression with only seven minutes of screen time.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
To test the concept, the team equipped Madagascar hissing cockroaches with a lightweight wearable backpack capable of collecting physiological and behavioral data.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
This might be as simple as a public argument – hissing whispers in an elevator.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
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
This behavior may include stamping its feet, raising its tail, or hissing.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Growling, hissing and swiping, Scooter charged at a glass door, holding its ground as the bears lingered just outside.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Then there's hissing through the air vents.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hissing
Noun
-
The booing of his decision to take off teenager Rio Ngumoha midway through the second half wasn’t mutiny by normal standards.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Most memorably when he was asked by The Star’s Jaylon Thompson about the booing.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
But an unlikely story is bubbling up in the nation as Chinese fans cheer on unlikely amateur soccer players – from delivery drivers to villagers – now playing in packed stadiums back home in a rare sign, some believe, that the Beautiful Game may finally be taking root in the nation.—
Reagan Yip,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
The laughter stops immediately, and a familiar look of bubbling rage returns to Ruben’s eyes.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The first seven minutes are a beatless drift of gas-canister hiss, intended to symbolize the sound of a baby emerging into the world.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
-
Apple's implementation is natural and consistent, without the hiss introduced by Bose and Sony.—
Christian de Looper,
PC Magazine,
18 Apr. 2026
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
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
-
The Oregon Zoo’s official TikTok account posted footage of a bear swishing around in a tub filled with ice and water, rolling on his back and kicking his feet before shaking water off.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 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
-
Passenger vehicles are whizzing by, some even cutting off the truck.—
David Julian,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Surveillance footage showed the car whizzing by cameras in a flash before hitting the wall in what sounded like an explosion.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
28 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
Cite this Entry
“Hissing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hissing. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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