hiss

verb

ˈhis 

hissed; hissing; hisses

intransitive verb

: to make a sharp sibilant sound

the crowd hissed in disapproval

hissing steam

transitive verb

1

: to express disapproval of by hissing

hissed the performers off the stage

2

: to utter or whisper angrily or threateningly and with a hiss

hiss noun

hisser noun

Synonyms

• bubble
• fizzle
• swish
• whistle
• sizzle

Examples of hiss in a Sentence

The radiator hissed as it let off steam.

The audience hissed him off the stage.

“Leave me alone!” he hissed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Contractors working on a sewer project on the 4600 block of 10th Avenue at Stockton Boulevard reported hearing a hissing sound coming from a 2-inch gas line, according to authorities. —Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025

Getting hissed off So here’s a thing that happened. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025

But on a recent warm September morning, the rhythmic beat of jackhammers crushing concrete with steel and the hissing flow of rush hour traffic greeted a group of amateur ornithologists. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025

Nineteen hours after departure the train took its final breath, hissed and braked into the historic port of Narvik. —The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, of imitative origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for hiss

• bis
• bliss
• criss
• dis
• diss
• kiss
• kris
• liss
• mis
• miss
• riss
• sis

Kids Definition

hiss

verb

ˈhis 

: to make a long sharp sound like that of the speech sound \s\ or that made by an alarmed animal (as a snake or cat) usually as a sign of disapproval

hissed them off the stage

hiss noun

hisser noun