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
The door is heard to open with a whoosh and a hissing sound, but neither the door nor the plane exterior are shown in the aftermath. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 For each submission, the zoo will name a Madagascar hissing cockroach in an ex's honor. Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025 Quit bugging me with El Paso Zoo The El Paso Zoo in El Paso, Texas is once again naming Madagascar hissing cockroaches after exes. Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025 This week, Matt Ritchie compared Wembley 2023 to a party balloon that had been inflated for a fortnight; by the day of the game, air was hissing out. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiss
Noun
  • By the time the half-time whistle had been blown, England were leading 5-0, Beever-Jones had completed her hat-trick, Hampton had yet to lay a glove on the ball and the backspace key was taking an absolute hammering.
    Ali Rampling, New York Times, 31 May 2025
  • However, referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle, on the reasonable basis that, from his angle, Bayindir had two hands on the ball, which, by the laws of soccer, would mean Rogers had committed a foul.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Even so, some of Lucy’s pronouncements are so truly awful that a blunt snort of laughter is the only response.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 13 June 2025
  • Conclusion: The Crown is made for those who want the reliability of a Toyota SUV minus the snort and belch.
    Josh Max, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • As the bartender delicately poured the sparkling wine into my glass, the drink bubbled delightfully.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2025
  • The big business of little bubbles The seltzer market has bubbled over in recent years.
    Liza Weisstuch, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • On the bright side, Wilson showed good zip on a pass to rookie tight end Jalin Conyers and connected with Black on a sideline throw, which required a nice toe-tap from Black.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • Original price: $49.99 Old Navy's Matte one-piece zip swimsuit features a zipper closure on the front and cap sleeves.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • His voice—typically pitched between a bellow and a sneer—was instantly recognizable to the couple that night.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
  • In a movie climate where remakes tend to draw sneers of derision and claims that people have just gotten too lazy to invent anything new, Disney’s remakes of its own products are always a chief target.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, despite vast resources and early hype, both efforts fizzled.
    Stephen Wunker, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • The second period was also Florida’s best period in the series opener but the fizzled down the stretch, giving up the game-tying goal in the third and losing with 31 seconds left in overtime on a Draisaitl power-play goal.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • But watching a group of roughnecks on a rig in grubby overalls moving huge, long steel pipes, Dugan's smile begins to fade to a smirk.
    Kirk Siegler, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Modern thinkers stopped using these concepts altogether except in quotation marks, with a wink, a smirk, and a glance backward toward the unscientific past.
    Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • John asked rhetorically as Tyrese swished jump shots in an empty gym.
    Eric Nehm, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • It’s believed that there are now more than 100 baby trout swishing around their new digs in Arroyo Hondo Creek in Santa Barbara County.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiss. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

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