whish 1 of 2

as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the whish of tires on wet pavement

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whish

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound seemingly out of nowhere, a baseball whished past my head

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2
as in to hiss
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ the match whished as it burst into flame

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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 whish
Noun
The Sound: Couple of quick snorts, followed by a long, loud exhale: Whish, whish, pheeeewwwwwt! Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 22 Sep. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whish
Noun
  • The 2000s Sacramento Kings star guard looks fit enough to curl off a screen and coolly drop in an 18-footer jumper in front of a frenzied home playoff crowd, but Bibby does his basketball work now with a whistle.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Arne Slot’s name boomed around Anfield just before the final whistle.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Choirs of insects clicked and hummed.
    Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Right off the bat, the room was humming.
    Elizabeth Leonard, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some hissing or growling is normal, but separate them if aggression escalates.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
  • My pal was in deep slumber, breathed through this kind of hissing accordion.
    Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The drawstring bucket bag can be worn as either a shoulder bag or a crossbody, and comes with a small, removable zip pouch that can hold credit cards or cash without getting lost inside your bag.
    Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Go with icebreaker’s 300 MerinoFine™ half-zip thermal top and leggings—featuring the softest, finest, and heaviest weight fabric, made with ultrafine merino wool fibers that deliver a luxuriously soft feel and keep you warm in the cold New England mornings.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Days before, the city was buzzing with intense preparations and great anticipation.
    Laura Gómez, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Among A-list sightings that had the whole crowd buzzing was Hailey Bieber and Miley Cyrus, who sat beside each other in matching leather looks.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And what the pair had was their family firm's bubbling de-icers, $400 electric fan-like devices that, when lowered into the sea, churned warmer water up from below to prevent ice from forming.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Her interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg keeps that possibility bubbling.
    Dan Walters, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Just hearing this phrase whispered on the other end of the phone is enough to send a chill up your spine.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Light incense and whisper the names of those who came before you.
    Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whish. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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