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
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
Look for signs like the cat stopping purring, stiffening, thrashing their tail, or hissing.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
My pal was in deep slumber, breathed through this kind of hissing accordion.
—Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
And, that there was a goblin, squatting in my skull, rattling a metal pail full of bolts and hissing failure, rot, spoil.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 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
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
Look for signs like the cat stopping purring, stiffening, thrashing their tail, or hissing.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
My pal was in deep slumber, breathed through this kind of hissing accordion.
—Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
And, that there was a goblin, squatting in my skull, rattling a metal pail full of bolts and hissing failure, rot, spoil.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hissing
Noun
-
There have been fewer cheer-enticing moments and more frustrated booing — even in last weekend’s 5-1 win against Real Betis.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Trump plowed on loudly through the booing.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Full Serpent is intended to offer more of Green’s adventures in a future landscape where the past is always poking through the dust, bubbling over with color and life.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Broil until cheese is melted, browned, and bubbling, 3–6 minutes, depending on your oven (watch carefully).—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The hiss of our skis seemed louder and crisper with no one else around.—
Tim Neville,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These include a bottle opener, whistle, magnifier, compass, spoke wrench, and a hex wrench for tightening loose bolts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sought to blow the whistle in a big way by calling for action in a speech to the National Press Club in Washington.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 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
-
McDonald’s is spreading a little festive sneer this holiday season with the release of a brand-new menu inspired by Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Burnett tried several versions in a row: first deadpan, then with a sneer of sarcasm, pursing her lips in judgment.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
New Yorkers had a similar mindset, taking to long, empty avenues with skiis to enjoy miniature urban slopes, whizzing past cars buried in the icy mounds.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Though a full moon will spoil the show in 2026, stargazers could be treated to a host of bright fireballs and the sight of multiple meteors per hour whizzing across the night sky at more than 25 miles per second when the Quadrantids peak.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The bus drivers do nothing to enforce the rules, and we seniors are left trudging down the bus aisle while the people in the seats smirk, look at their phones and talk to each other.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
In the video, Castela sings these words with a knowing smirk.—
Carolina Abbott Galvão,
The Dial,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hissing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hissing. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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