as in huffs
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
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Recent Examples of sighs
Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
As the New York Rangers poured goal after goal into the Nashville Predators’ net Monday, fans and players let out not only cheers but also sighs of relief.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Rothbauer, the bartender, sighs.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Affleck sighs and rolls her eyes.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Outside, the tide sighs against the rocks in steady conversation.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Bonds signs some autographs, then takes a seat on the bench in the Giants dugout next to his mother, puts his head in his hands, and sighs.
—Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
As the New York Rangers poured goal after goal into the Nashville Predators’ net Monday, fans and players let out not only cheers but also sighs of relief.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Rothbauer, the bartender, sighs.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Affleck sighs and rolls her eyes.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Outside, the tide sighs against the rocks in steady conversation.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sighs
Noun
-
When whispers of these new allegations began to receive national coverage, many outlets were cynical and tried to debunk them.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Normally, scent voices are mere whispers compared to the screams and angry shouts of humans, but in that section, certain sensitive plant species shrieked incessantly because of their proximity to plants that hindered their growth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The rest of the gang rushes inside to be at Eleven’s side and save the children who are trapped inside on the Pain Tree, while Vecna burbles and gasps for air.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The clashes drew bursts of laughter and, sometimes, gasps, from the show's studio audience and from home viewers.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
All of the murmurs point toward that.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
-
After deciding to run it back in the offseason, there are murmurs that one of the team’s top players might be on the block sooner rather than later.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In the video, Chilli sniffs large bricks to locate the scent a trainer shared with him.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Tovar is the one officer who immediately sniffs out that there’s something weird about Gacy, and Luna incrementally nudges the character further and further into obsession.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Through a mesmerizing journey of dance, the Miami City Ballet breathes life into George Balanchine's timeless masterpiece, The Nutcracker.—
Najahe Sherman,
CBS News,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Chaplin breathes fiery, chaotic life into the role.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Clearing right-of-way strips can result in the loss of trees and native vegetation; crackles, hisses and humming can be heard nearby especially during periods of high humidity; and farm fields and animal habitat can be affected by construction activities.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Stein’s bedroom adjoined the room where Dodge would visit her lover at night; kept awake by the murmurings and moans, Stein lit a candle and composed a portrait of her host.—
Via Scribner,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
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Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sighs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sighs. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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