hiss 1 of 2

1
as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the hiss of air escaping from a balloon

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2
as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval there was a chorus of boos and hisses from the fans when the umpire called the runner out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hiss

2 of 2

verb

as in to bubble
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ the frightened kitten hissed at us when we tried to pick it up

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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 hiss
Verb
Members have hissed and hollered at Presidents of the opposing party in recent years with casual regularity. Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025 Avoid a hissing argument in an elevator. Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2025 Ross Crates, an ecologist at the Australian National University who was not involved in the study, noted that other research had shown that some birds hissed to ward off predators to their nests. Kate Golembiewski, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025 The fires were accompanied by an eerie soundtrack of blazes popping, broken gas lines hissing, buildings collapsing and winds roaring. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiss
Noun
  • The Reign and Thorns have been clashing since the league’s first whistle, and even with legends like Megan Rapinoe and Christine Sinclair fading into the rearview mirror, the rivalry is evergreen and was on display Friday night.
    Emily Olsen, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The first lady and the president participated in traditional festivities, including blowing whistles, egg rolling, and coloring with children.
    Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Some friends prescribed a healthy snort of bourbon and a trip to the doctor.
    Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2025
  • There was always laughter, followed up by an occasional snort sometimes!
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • So, will the - young and bubbling with ideas - lose out as potential backers look for safe pairs of hands in the shape of alumni from companies that have already succeeded?
    Trevor Clawson, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The upholstery feels durable and tightly sewn into the seams, so that the fabric won’t bubble or pull away from the cushions easily.
    Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Think: ribbed tanks, quarter zips, soft joggers, wide-leg pants, and crewnecks that feel a little more refined than your typical athleisure.
    Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2025
  • It’s designed with an exterior front zip pocket plus an interior zip pocket and back slip pocket to keep things like your phone, wallet, etc. neat and organized.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships.
    Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Despite California’s reputation for taking the lead on climate change, the death of Senate Bill 222 is the latest example of how environmentalists’ most aggressive policies regularly fizzle out when Big Labor works on behalf of Big Oil.
    CALmatters, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The project eventually fizzled out, as Wright focused on designing the Imperial Hotel in Japan from 1917 to 1923.
    Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Little things, like the close-ups of Moss’s face with her little smirk, used so frequently as to lose all meaning, began to irritate me.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The fifth season began with the smirk seen ’round the globe, pitting June Osborne (Moss) against Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski).
    Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • When the ball swished through the net, the tablet vibrated.
    Russell Leung, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Two minutes later, Cryer swished a 3, giving Houston a 50-48 lead, its first since the early minutes of the first half.
    Doug Haller, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiss. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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