hissing 1 of 2

present participle of hiss
as in bubbling
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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hissing

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 hissing
Verb
Steam was rising out of the hissing showers nearby, and there was Josh Allen slumped on a stool in front of his locker, looking like a club fighter from Jersey who had picked the wrong opponent for a payday. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 According to a blog post from The Spruce Pets, a new kitten can cause a lot of stress for an older cat, leading to behaviors like hissing, reclusiveness or even a sudden change in eating habits. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
Initially Mila can be seen hissing at Fifi, just for being near her. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025 In 2021, scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore turned Madagascar hissing cockroaches into cyborgs, implanting electrodes in sensory organs known as cerci that were then connected to tiny computers. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025 While Hood said his breathing was restricted, and the plexiglass quickly fogged, air was heard hissing in past the mask's silicone seal. Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2025 Putting it simply, cyborg insects typically consist of a large-ish insect – often a Madagascar hissing cockroach – that has been equipped with a small electronic backpack. New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025 The chopper lands with a gentle thump on the black tarmac, rotors hissing for several more seconds in a steady thrum before fading into silence. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hissing
Verb
  • Global demand for the powdered tea has skyrocketed around the world, fueled by consumer interest in its health benefits and by the bright green matcha lattes bubbling up on social media.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
  • If the bubbling excitement for a new Duff album isn't proof enough, consider the success Ashlee is having revisiting her greatest hits with a Las Vegas residency 17 years after her last album arrived.
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Which could explain some of the booing.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Quickly, though, as McLean walked off the mound, the booing turned into a standing ovation.
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The first meeting resulted in a hiss from Miriam, but after a few days, the two are obsessed.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Moreover, the transparency mode loses the distracting hiss of the Pro 2 buds.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The incident took place in the third quarter after Kelce continued to block after the whistle was blown.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • This assertion, according to a subsequent whistle-blower complaint, was false.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Voyager 2, meanwhile, is whizzing at about 34,000 mph while 13 billion miles away.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The man appeared to be aiming for geese, the caller told police, but a few shots came dangerously close to the couple, with at least two bullets whizzing audibly just above the caller’s head, according to the outlet.
    Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The single, meanwhile, is ushered in with a gripping bass line and an undercurrent of keyboards until Osbourne makes his grand vocal entrance, all sneers and snarls.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • Hedda’s smirk speaks volumes as the film flashes back to that fateful night.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
  • One snap was taken from their family outing, showing the 23-year-old sitting with a smirk on his face after blowing out the candles of his cake.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hissing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hissing. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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