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
Noah, however, couldn't run the length of a football field without wheezing. Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026 The old boiler wheezed and stalled, the roof sprang leaks, half-century-old pipes cracked, and the lobby intercom was defunct. Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 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
  • At this, the paddock gasps in unison.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
  • The late-night order halts what would have been the nation’s ninth nitrogen execution, a rare reprieve in a state where recent nitrogen deaths involved shaking, gasping and prolonged suffering.
    Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • The final whistle may have ended the match, but the celebration was just getting started for England supporters in North Texas.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
  • When the final whistle blew, the Seattle crowd gave one last mighty roar as the Americans triumphantly applauded their fans, who had been in great voice the full 90 minutes.
    David Close, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • The president used similar bromides in private calls to assuage allies, including Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson, before launching the war in February, according to people familiar with the conversations.
    Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
  • Other testing by the state’s environmental quality department found elevated levels of heavy metals commonly found in oil field wastewater including barium and bromide.
    Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Dogs primarily regulate heat through panting and small sweat glands in their paw pads, according to the American Kennel Club.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
  • Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • But unlike lower-commitment purchases like a car or an air fryer, a house doesn’t come with an owner’s manual, and every hollow whoosh through the vents meant the furnace was imploding or a pipe was bursting.
    Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026
  • 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
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
  • Use a piping bag or cut the corner on a zip-top bag to easily create a neat dollop of sour cream.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
  • If so, Lee offers some interesting playmaking capability as a nifty passer who can get into plays with some zip and deliver balls on the move.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • Victor Lindelof’s pre-match comments smacked of bombast and confidence, the sort of words which are said but not meant, platitudes used to motivate rather than to be sworn under oath.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 15 June 2026
  • What is in danger is that this will strip away the soul, the raw humanity actors like Jim Handy brough to each role and replace it with flat, generalized platitudes.
    Carl Kurlander, Deadline, 13 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wheeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wheeze. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

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