as in to gasp
to take in and let out a deep audible breath or to make a similar sound
Mom always used to sigh loudly whenever she found a mess on the floor—which was often a breeze sighed through the leaves
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of sigh
Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2024
The wind sighs: Save me, Lord, for the waters have compassed my soul.
—Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Matt Egan, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
As word ricochetted around Washington last week that Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Justice was pulling his name amid untenable scrutiny of a dating life alleged to include minors, drugs, and cash, nowhere were the sighs of relief louder than from the DOJ staffers themselves.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sigh 
Verb
Thatcher was more cerebral and sometimes sighed at Reagan’s loose command of policy details.
—Danny Heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2024
The wind sighs: Save me, Lord, for the waters have compassed my soul.
—Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
But the oil market is breathing a huge sigh of relief because Iran’s oil facilities were spared.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
As word ricochetted around Washington last week that Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Justice was pulling his name amid untenable scrutiny of a dating life alleged to include minors, drugs, and cash, nowhere were the sighs of relief louder than from the DOJ staffers themselves.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sigh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sigh
Verb
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Spectators in the gallery cried and gasped, as Neely’s legs flailed about and then slowed down and stopped moving altogether before Penny released his hold on Neely’s neck and got up, fifty-one seconds later.Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
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The crowd gasped as smoke from red and gold fireworks filled the air.Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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With a fan balanced behind each ear, the device operates at the level of a whisper (30 decibels), and its battery can last for 17 hours, or the equivalent of two workdays.Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Dec. 2024
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Neutral and clean with just a whisper of grain and pepper to enliven the palate.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Pad see ew huffed with smokiness, the wok hei seared so deeply into the wide noodles that its potency could withstand even the indignities of carryout containers.Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024
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The guardian huffed and slammed the door shut, but a moment later, metal clunked, and the door was opened.Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 12 June 2024
Noun
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But as these rules tighten, murmurs of capital outflows grow louder.Francois Botha, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
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There was a sort of stunned murmur going through the crowd of 69,456 at NRG Stadium, the vast majority of which wore the sky blue and white of Argentina.Paul Tenorio, The Athletic, 5 July 2024
Verb
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People suffering from asthma or other respiratory illnesses can have trouble breathing during high-pollution days.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
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Pelonis Warm Mist Humidifier To soften the air and breathe easy all winter, consider this warm mist humidifier from Pelonis.Miles Walls, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Waitstaff carried trays of drinks, loud music blasted throughout the house and partygoers were snorting cocaine and using marijuana, according to the lawsuit.Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
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George the Demon snorting Sheryl’s ashes while wearing a Sheryl wig?Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
Verb
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She's even learned to spot the telltale signs that Leia, 11, is going on a thieving spree as the mischievous pup usually starts sniffing around the yard and then heads straight next door.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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The dog feels for the door opening, jumps up inside the vehicle, sniffs for her crate and goes inside for a nap.Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The ultimate effect is paradoxical: the more that Valéry eliminates the ghost of pain and passion from the logical machinery of his work, the starker and more affecting the moans and cries of the ghost become.Benjamin Kunkel, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
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Against Notre Dame, the collective moan in the Coliseum with yet another last-minute loss because of Riley’s poor play calling was the breaking point for this lifelong Trojan.Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Sigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sigh. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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