Definition of wheezenext
as in to gasp
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty he was wheezing rapidly after a hard run

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

wheeze

2 of 2

noun

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 wheeze
Verb
The previous owners must have doused the property with chemicals, and as summer wheezed toward its smoky end, my lawn became less suburban ideal and more of a pop quiz in weed identification. Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026 Since October, her youngest, now 7, has been coughing and wheezing a lot, especially at night. Lisa Song, ProPublica, 7 May 2026
Noun
Meanwhile, their power play continued to sputter and wheeze, going 0 for 4 as part of a 2-for-34 funk. Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025 Everyone understands that smoke causes respiratory problems; all of us cough and wheeze when the air becomes hazardous for weeks at a time. Debra Hendrickson, WIRED, 4 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wheeze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wheeze
Verb
  • Loud, frequent snoring paired with gasping, choking or pauses in breathing may point to obstructive sleep apnea.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the more than 100 in attendance in the council chambers gasped or laughed when the town revealed that the fines have only amounted to $1,600 so far.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Before Park attempted her free throw, a referee blew her whistle to stop play.
    Zach Powell, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The whistle was blown for a lightning delay with only two minutes left in the second half.
    Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The team used a mixture of zinc chloride and lithium bromide salts to dissolve the cellulose.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The fire contained compounds from more than two dozen chemical families, including dangerous amounts of bromide, a naturally occurring element that can irritate the skin and mucus membranes.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The delivery person added that none of the canines appeared to have access to food or sufficient water, and that all the animals were panting.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Dogs primarily rely on panting, while cats also groom themselves to help regulate body temperature.
    Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • Some riders gallivant and whoosh past bystanders, weaving in and out and putting surrounding passersby on edge.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Open spaces whoosh with fresh air.
    Mike Albo, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.
    Danielle McNally, InStyle, 28 May 2026
  • The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors said Asora had Hansen zip-tie MacNeil’s hands before Hansen was restrained.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
  • There's also a zip pocket for ID cards and other essentials, altogether making this a great option for both kids and adults on-the-go.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In the second game of Monday’s doubleheader, Marmol showed his words weren’t just platitudes, pitching to Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz to start the bottom of the 10th inning with the automatic runner on second and first base open.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Today, Instagram unveiled a refresh of its wordmark, accompanied by the usual bland corporate platitudes these kinds of announcements are always packaged with.
    Aurich Lawson, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wheeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wheeze. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on wheeze

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!