whistling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of whistlingnext
as in shrill
having a high musical pitch or range the whistling sound of missiles as they sped toward their targets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whistling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of whistle
as in wheezing

Related Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whistling
  1. shrill
  2. wheezing
  3. hissing
  4. whooshing
  5. swooshing
Adjective
  • That trademark indecision of summer takes root in her words and spreads through the music until her vocals diverge in the chorus, peeling like a clementine’s skin as one shrill line scales upward and the other remains monotone.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
  • On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of shrill
Verb
  • Double-bass glissandos hint at hands grubbing in the earth, while abrupt moments of concerted action—notably, an accordion wheezing out an F-sharp-minor chord—suggest flickering signals and transmissions.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • Since October, her youngest, now 7, has been coughing and wheezing a lot, especially at night.
    — Lisa Song, ProPublica, 7 May 2026
Definition of wheezing
Verb
  • The complete assembly weighs just enough for the Madagascar hissing cockroach, a species favored for cyborg research because of its large size, robustness, and wingless body, to carry without significantly impairing its movement.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • Jason was hissing fiercely; Gordon, who projects a monastic calm, was trying to reason with the mother while batting her back each time the flap swung open.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of hissing
Verb
  • Windows frame mountain views, opening onto terraces that overlook skiers whooshing down the slopes.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
  • The motionless people drooling on the sidewalk, the Waymos whooshing around with no one inside.
    — Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of whooshing
Verb
  • Dollop whipped cream over panna cotta and spread, swooshing decoratively as desired.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Somehow, two sequels have materialized to update the swooshing neon visuals and cartoony renditions of a virtual world.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of swooshing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

whistle-stops
whistling
whit
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Cite this Entry

“Whistling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whistling. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of whistling for Spanish Speakers

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