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
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
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Warning signs a skunk is ready to spray include jumping, stamping their front feet, arching their back, clicking teeth, and hissing.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 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
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
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
Then there's hissing through the air vents.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Warning signs a skunk is ready to spray include jumping, stamping their front feet, arching their back, clicking teeth, and hissing.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 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
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
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 ballet flat trend has been bubbling away for a few years, with cult labels like Comme des Garçons, Maison Margiela, Lemaire, and Bode releasing versions as early as 2021, beloved by fashion-forward arty types who’d pair them with shredded jeans or baggy shorts.—
Jack Stanley,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Bake on lower rack until sauce is bubbling, 13 to 15 minutes.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
30 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
-
After Party Modelo After Party Festivities aren’t over after the final whistle!—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In the process, Nicole unintentionally unleashes a terrifyingly malign spirit who lures victims to their deaths with a haunting whistle.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Battle, who finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, took the inbound pass near the paint and dribbled out along the baseline for more space before swishing the winner and landing on her back.—
Dave Campbell,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ blowout win against Sacramento, James bounced off the balls of his feet down the court with his unmistakable bow-legged gait after swishing a 3.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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
-
Nobody wants pedestrians doing selfies in the middle of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, cars whizzing by.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The woman glared at the steam whizzing out of my car, her eyes cutting through it to find mine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Barcelona, created by a small group of rock-and-roll writers from Buenos Aires, approached news stories from Argentina and around the world with a smirk.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Gates, no relation to Antonio, offers a shrug and a smirk.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hissing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hissing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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