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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hissing
Noun
-
Most memorably when he was asked by The Star’s Jaylon Thompson about the booing.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
-
The anger builds, leading to louder and more frequent booing.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The decision to withhold Golden Tempo comes amid bubbling conversations to tweak the Triple Crown race calendar.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
-
Whatever emerges from the bubbling oil of the fryer — fish and chips; thick, thin and curly fries; Scotch eggs and bangers — is immaculately fried.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 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
-
Many of the league’s best players, in every major pro sports league, get a free pass more than others and a favorable whistle.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Paige Ostroushko continued to follow her, blowing a whistle in her ear and pushing her, the lawsuit said.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The Illinois freshman then spun to his left and hopped back behind the 3-point line, swishing his second 3-pointer of the night.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
1 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
-
The drone flew into the yard and dropped a three-foot package before whizzing away, the captain of the drone hunting team for South Carolina’s state prisons told CNN in an interview.—
Taylor Galgano,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
The terrain is mostly flat, and there are plenty of electric buggies for whizzing around.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 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 14 May. 2026.
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