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
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Recent Examples of sighing
Cali gave her friend a look before sighing and pulling off I-10.
—
Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
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, 3 Sep. 2025
Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
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, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sighing
Verb
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The fears of my imagination, the possibility of losing a child due to one inattentive moment, all combined to leave me gasping for breath.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
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Their difficult, high-flying act left the judges and live audience gasping.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Left unsaid was what else his family was breathing.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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In truth, he’s just been taken off the ventilator and resumed breathing on his own.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The American Kennel Club says that digging is as natural to dogs as barking or sniffing.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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In Season 1, someone taps out after the first night because a bear was sniffing around his camp.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Howard’s best comedies have a light, almost effortless touch, but this one is panting and gasping essentially from the opening frames.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
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Officers responding to the scene found the dog panting heavily, with excessive drool coating the back seat.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sighing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sighing. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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