as in to gasp
to take in and let out a deep audible breath or to make a similar sound
Mom always used to sigh loudly whenever she found a mess on the floor—which was often a breeze sighed through the leaves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to crave
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
people have always been sighing for the "good old days"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sigh
David Weiss, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
His brother, Erick Garcia, 20, said his mom and aunt had gone to cook more tamales in hopes of selling more throughout the day.
Exhausted, Chris sat on a fold-out chair for a moment, letting out a sigh of relief and massaging his eyebrows with his fingers.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025
Regretful sighs aside, there are some positive facets within this production worth celebrating.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sigh
Verb
General Manager Jeff Smith and marketing guru Gus Tejeda proved to be amiable and welcoming hosts on what must have been cause for a huge sigh of relief after so much advance planning – but the evening went down without a hitch and the food and drinks were simply stellar.
—David Weiss, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
His brother, Erick Garcia, 20, said his mom and aunt had gone to cook more tamales in hopes of selling more throughout the day.
Exhausted, Chris sat on a fold-out chair for a moment, letting out a sigh of relief and massaging his eyebrows with his fingers.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
Verb
The door now sighs a soft goodbye,As echoes fade and memories fly.
—Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025
Regretful sighs aside, there are some positive facets within this production worth celebrating.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sigh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sigh
Noun
-
One of my favorite things is hearing the gasps — those moments when the audience realizes something that fans of the series will connect to immediately.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
22 July 2025
-
He was either shrouded in haze (the gasps of the fog machine eventually became indistinguishable from the vapor being collectively exhaled by the crowd) or obscured by low-angle backlighting.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Given the sequel’s summer publicity rounds — Sandler mentioned McDonough’s name on the Kelce brothers’ podcast, for one — the whispers around the real-life Happy Gilmore might start earlier than normal when school begins on Sept. 5.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
-
There was—according to the whispers—effectively a button the U.S. could press to control the aircraft bought and operated by recipient countries.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
By then, whispers that had already become a murmur turned into open chatter.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
-
His overdubbed bass lines, keyboard vamps and vocal murmurs often sounded like puzzle pieces from other songs.—
Jose Valentino Ruiz,
The Conversation,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
-
Suffice to say, the 2025 Cannes market will be filled with even more groans on moans than years past.—
Elsa Ramo,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
When that harmony hits, the sale becomes a symphony: the crack of the register, the rustle of the bag, the quiet thrill of being chosen.—
Joel Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
There was no answer, just a footstep behind him and the rustle of a dress.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sigh. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share