Thesaurus results for SIGHING

sighing

verb

present participle of sigh

as in gasping

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

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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 sighing Watch On As every streaming platform inevitably becomes like linear TV and offers up more commercials than common sense, we're left sighing at the 360 that society has taken. —

Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 3 June 2026 There are nearly two hundred people standing there, looking around and sighing. —

Literary Hub, 27 May 2026 Everything at this Elmhurst flamepot is punched up, texture and flavor alike, from sighing-soft to tensile to snappy, and always hot-hot-hot. —

Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026 Dennison said, sighing after the last note faded. —

Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 But the people in these plays aren’t sighing and slumping. —

Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026 And while many might be reluctant to close the time capsule door on their beloved skinnies, some of us are sighing with relief that the current denim trend is comfy enough for travel. —

Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026 But the film belongs to Farmer, Jacobs’ own grandmother, who gives Hettie an unfussy sturdiness of mien and spirit to counter the growing, sighing frailty of her person, and a steady, narrow stare that occasionally seems to see through time. —

Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026 Suddenly, Jeff Parker plucks a sighing six-note guitar run, dropping his shoulders into a solo section that carries the tune to its swooning conclusion. —

Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sighing

Verb

The tail end of the aforementioned second act does address some of the novel’s darkness with an abrupt tonal shift that left Tuesday’s audience gasping in horror, rather than glee.

— Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who caught a fourth quarter touchdown from Drake Maye in the Super Bowl, suffered an injury scare during the softball game hosted by Maye when comedian Matt Rife rolled up on Stevenson's leg during a rundown that had Patriots fans gasping for air.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026