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
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 hissing
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
Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the Bronx Zoo in New York has revived its annual tradition of naming one of the zoo’s thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches for $15.
—Julian Torres, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Why Madagascar hissing cockroaches are actually romantic Naming a roach for Valentine’s Day is a great gag, but also these critters are capable of hissing their way into your heart.
—Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
If the pressure relief valve begins hissing or spraying water, then something is wrong.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Donors symbolically adopt and name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after a loved one, an ex, or anyone who deserves to be immortalized with a hiss and receive a certificate with your proof of naming for $15.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The hissing noise tracked to his home office, where one wall felt particularly warm.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
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
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
Meanwhile, the Bronx Zoo in New York has revived its annual tradition of naming one of the zoo’s thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches for $15.
—Julian Torres, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Why Madagascar hissing cockroaches are actually romantic Naming a roach for Valentine’s Day is a great gag, but also these critters are capable of hissing their way into your heart.
—Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
If the pressure relief valve begins hissing or spraying water, then something is wrong.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Donors symbolically adopt and name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after a loved one, an ex, or anyone who deserves to be immortalized with a hiss and receive a certificate with your proof of naming for $15.
—Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The hissing noise tracked to his home office, where one wall felt particularly warm.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hissing
Noun
-
Indeed, the booing and whistling from the home supporters had largely died down until Calafiori started to waste time during throw-ins, taking 25 seconds in the example below.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The booing of Israeli athletes fits into a pattern Jews recognize all too well.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The beat’s glossy familiarity pairs well with Nett’s vocals and offers a glimpse into how the rap world might metabolize the new sounds bubbling up from the underground.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
-
But Bruce’s issues with the record company aside, there was another more serious problem bubbling beneath the surface, one that pretty much every artist except maybe The Beatles, ran into.—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The multi-vehicle pile-up that ensues might go even dumber than a Rusko drop, yet there’s no escaping the anxiety that remains in the static hiss that closes the track.—
James Gui,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
-
By using studio-grade microphones, the earbuds can feed the surrounding soundscape directly into the listener’s ears with a sense of realism that’s free from any hiss or distortion.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Bulls forward said his on-court temperament was molded by his experience playing under longtime Chicago AAU coach Mac Irvin, who always preached that once a player started talking smack in a game, the player had to uphold that same intensity through the final whistle.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Let the lemonade whet your whistle, then explore the rest of the city’s surprisingly accomplished food scene.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
In 2020, when Wembanyama was 16, a video of him swishing midrange jumpers against Rudy Gobert, a 7-foot-1 French compatriot and one of the NBA’s top defenders, went viral.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Dec. 2025
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
-
It is provided by city monorails whizzing above their heads.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
-
One of the best halfpipe freeskiers in the world, Hess, 27, throws 1620s, double cork 1260s, triple corks and a wild array of other flips, twists, grabs and upside-down or sideways midair tricks — on skis — while whizzing up and down the 22-foot-high walls of an icy halfpipe.—
Gretchen Reynolds,
Washington Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Gosling said in his trademark slight-smirk delivery.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The review delayed the game, and McCarron returned with a smirk on his face and skated to the penalty box with no injury.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hissing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hissing. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
