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
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Recent Examples of sighs
Judy Berman, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Twice thwarted, Beth sighs, says yes, and gets on with the business of living.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Lady Gun’s footman Alfie sighs in relief when his taxing employer leaves for the evening.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Everyone oohs and aahs over this development, but Mu Hee just looks at Hiro and sighs.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
In the series premiere of Netflix’s Vladimir, Rachel Weisz awakens from troubled sleep to a cascade of texts, sighs deeply, and addresses the camera with pleading eyes.
—Judy Berman, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Twice thwarted, Beth sighs, says yes, and gets on with the business of living.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Lady Gun’s footman Alfie sighs in relief when his taxing employer leaves for the evening.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Everyone oohs and aahs over this development, but Mu Hee just looks at Hiro and sighs.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sighs
Noun
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This chilling, starkly beautiful ambient piece draws Nebraska’s marginal whispers to the forefront and smears them across the picture plane.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
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Jessica Alba's beau just quietly debunked whispers that the actress is secretly dating an NFL star.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Upon announcing her status as a Faithful, the whole room gasps.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There were plenty of rumors, plenty of murmurs, plenty of whispers surrounding the Florida Panthers entering the NHL trade deadline.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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That was reflected on the ice for much of his first season, too, when the murmurs were many.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the video, Chilli sniffs large bricks to locate the scent a trainer shared with him.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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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
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Public protest always carries a quiet optimism — the belief that democracy still breathes through the willingness of ordinary people to show up and speak out.—
Jodi Bondi Norgaard,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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The sound breathes, oscillating between close instrumentation and wafting voices.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sighs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sighs. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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