wheeze 1 of 2

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

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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
Taken together, these factors can lead to children wheezing and experiencing difficulty breathing, leaving them with bluish colored skin from a lack of oxygen. Michael Cromer, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026 Southampton gave it a good go last season, but ultimately fell short, wheezing over the line with 12. Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Jan. 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
  • Each speech in Policy is time-limited; kids speak like gasping auctioneers to cram in arguments their opponents must try to rebut.
    Eli Durst, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Symptoms of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, resemble a cold, with a cough that usually worsens over weeks and can cause gasping, vomiting and difficulty breathing, the Pasadena Public Health Department said in a statement announcing the outbreak.
    Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Many of the league’s best players, in every major pro sports league, get a free pass more than others and a favorable whistle.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
  • Paige Ostroushko continued to follow her, blowing a whistle in her ear and pushing her, the lawsuit said.
    Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • The window next to my desk overlooks the gym’s large communal exercise room, and throughout the day, I am taunted by the sight of gyrating bodies panting through a Zumba class or a kettlebell set.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
  • For one, there’s Jean-Michel Basquiat’s monumental panting Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown), from 1983, set for Sotheby’s contemporary art sale on May 14, estimated at $45 million.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • During their stroll, Monroe stands over a subway grate as the whoosh of a passing train blows the skirt of her white halter dress up, a welcome respite from the sweltering heatwave that has gripped the city.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
  • Emptied feels like a sudden gushing whoosh, then nothingness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The bromide invites teachers to underestimate their students.
    Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
  • While these songs might appear to be somewhat straightforward EBM that wear their politics on their latex sleeve, there’s a level of ambiguity at work that moves Kissing Luck Goodbye past its own bromides and into deeper artistic territory.
    Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Her piece is a simple lycra zip-up unitard, adorned with tennis ball pockets on either thigh.
    Kaio Cesar, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
  • The ribbed leggings and zip-up jacket combo feels streamlined while the fabric has enough stretch to stay comfortable all day.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • Or is this commonplace in NBA transactions?
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2026
  • In the early 2000s, Sears began to use its website — the new iteration of its catalog — to help pioneer the now-commonplace practices of buying goods online and picking them up in store.
    Domenica Bongiovanni, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Crispy tostada shells get a swoosh of smoky chipotle mayo, plus fanned slices of juicy mango and creamy avocado.
    Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 May 2026
  • Teams will be permitted up to two additional commercial logos (no more than 4 square inches each) on uniforms — UH’s jerseys will continue to feature the Nike swoosh or Jordan Brand logos — and apparel and one additional commercial logo on equipment during the preseason and regular season.
    Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wheeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wheeze. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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