HISSING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

hissing 1 of 2

noun

as in booing

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Dissimilar Words

hissing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hiss

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

Noun

Fireworks might have additional whistling, crackling or hissing sounds. — Eva Flowe july 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 Sure enough, all tires were up and there were no obvious punctures or hissing sounds. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 28 June 2026 Researchers have also looked into using Madagascar hissing cockroaches as an alternative to testing on mammals in certain fields. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 7 June 2026 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

Verb

Granny doesn’t discriminate, hissing invective at both Alice and Thya with equal venom. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 Then a hissing arrow pins a golden soccer ball to the Clash of Clans escutcheon. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026 There’s plenty of feline choreography, like crawling, meowing, and hissing. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 Louis let out a hissing breath. — Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026 However, some observers have reported hearing faint crackling or hissing noises during intense displays. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hissing

Noun

Also, the booing of every single hydration break has been surprisingly amusing every single time.

— Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026
The Aniya moment alone would have been enough to earn this couplet of episodes five stars, but the recoupling also included a group booing, another hair-raising, furious speech from Melanie, and a moving Brinity reunion.

— Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Definition of booing

Verb

The tea leaves are placed in bubbling jacuzzis four times over, ridding them of any impurities, albeit minimal given that the farm is organic and so large that there is no pesticide drift from neighboring farms.

— Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
But first, let’s focus on a rivalry that’s been bubbling away for a couple of seasons now.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of bubbling

Noun

Up in the stands, fans waved their own flags — including some sneaked in over the objections of FIFA and the courts — and wrestled with emotions, as boos, howls and hisses rained down from all corners of the stadium.

— Rick Maese, Washington Post, 16 June 2026
Spray paint hisses and music envelops Amsterdam Avenue as Knicks colors cover the sidewalk.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 13 June 2026

Definition of hiss

Verb

Rinse the blueberries under cold running water, gently swishing them around with your hands to ensure all the berries are exposed to water.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
The Western Ghats mountains tumble down the west coast of India like a breaking wave, swishing through six states and across nearly 1,000 miles.

— Susan D'Arcy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2026

Definition of swishing

Noun

As the halftime whistle blew, fans surely would have been thanking the gods for the respite, not from the heat, but rather the lack of any substantive action.

— Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
From the first whistle until fans exited the parking lots, Colombian supporters who descended upon Kansas City made quite a racket.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026

Definition of whistle

Noun

With his rakish sneer and ruthlessly tight jodhpurs, Rupert has been thoroughly neutered with irony, transformed into an object for women to pick at.

— Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Of course, the prospect of one of the greatest women’s footballers in history skittering around Bromley on a Saturday lunchtime in front of a smattering of fans inevitably inspires sneers.

— Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Definition of sneer

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hissies

hissing

hissy

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Style

“Hissing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hissing. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hissing

noun

verb

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