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
  • Potential symptoms include rapid breathing, vomiting, panting and a high heart rate.
    Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
  • As soft as pajamas yet lovely enough to wear out on the town (or around the ship), the micro modal fabric of these Saint Haven pants drapes elegantly, resists wrinkles, and has a relaxed fit that works equally well at a harbor-side bar or a breezy dinner ashore.
    Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 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
  • Timothée Chalamet wears a colorful quarter zip while out for a Citibike ride in the West Village in New York City on May 1.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
  • This bowler bag has a wide interior that easily fits all of the essentials, and an interior zip pocket to help keep your things organized.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 3 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
  • Quick breads, like banana, zucchini, and pumpkin, can also transform into a sweet ready for a swoosh of frosting.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
  • After all, even the swoosh of traffic or a distant dog barking can ruin your reel.
    Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wheeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wheeze. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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