Thesaurus results for SIGHING

sighing

verb

present participle of sigh

as in gasping

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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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 sighing Dennison said, sighing after the last note faded. —

Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 But the people in these plays aren’t sighing and slumping. —

Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026 And while many might be reluctant to close the time capsule door on their beloved skinnies, some of us are sighing with relief that the current denim trend is comfy enough for travel. —

Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026 But the film belongs to Farmer, Jacobs’ own grandmother, who gives Hettie an unfussy sturdiness of mien and spirit to counter the growing, sighing frailty of her person, and a steady, narrow stare that occasionally seems to see through time. —

Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026 Suddenly, Jeff Parker plucks a sighing six-note guitar run, dropping his shoulders into a solo section that carries the tune to its swooning conclusion. —

Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2025 The song’s gentle reggaetón shuffle is augmented by some lovely harp plucking, and backing vocals that seem to be sighing in agreement. —

Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2025 Cali gave her friend a look before sighing and pulling off I-10. —

Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sighing

Verb

Each speech in Policy is time-limited; kids speak like gasping auctioneers to cram in arguments their opponents must try to rebut.

— Eli Durst, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Symptoms of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, resemble a cold, with a cough that usually worsens over weeks and can cause gasping, vomiting and difficulty breathing, the Pasadena Public Health Department said in a statement announcing the outbreak.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026