hiss 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hiss

2 of 2

verb

ˈhis How to pronounce hiss (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Noun
Apple's implementation is natural and consistent, without the hiss introduced by Bose and Sony. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026 Workers load stacks of textiles onto belts that move them through the scanner, which emits a sharp hiss while reading the textiles’ composition. — Tian MacLeod Ji, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Jason was hissing fiercely; Gordon, who projects a monastic calm, was trying to reason with the mother while batting her back each time the flap swung open. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026 Granny doesn’t discriminate, hissing invective at both Alice and Thya with equal venom. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiss
  1. whistle
  2. snort
  3. bubble
  4. sneer
  5. fizzle
  6. smirk
  7. swish
  8. boo
Noun
  • Before Park attempted her free throw, a referee blew her whistle to stop play.
    — Zach Powell, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The whistle was blown for a lightning delay with only two minutes left in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of whistle
Noun
  • The class had been quiet after the camp text, but now there was at least one snort.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of snort
Verb
  • The colors sparked an immediate sense of joy, and a fizz of anticipation bubbled through our group.
    — Megan Wilkes, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Manager Matt Quatraro said the issue first bubbled up over the weekend when the Royals played the Angels.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of bubble
Noun
  • Monica Bellucci’s sneer is a thing of wonder, so why have so few directors used it properly?
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The film’s sincerity — the quality critics praised most — was met with a sneer rather than a response.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
Definition of sneer
Verb
  • Djokovic will have cheers about as loud as the ones that will be heard for the Americans Shelton and Fritz, the type of adulation that often fizzles before the ultimate prize.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Larry Wren, captain of The First Choice charter boat in Islamorada, has spent decades on the ocean and has seen lightning hit the water, fizzling the surface, oftentimes making the hair on the top of people’s head stand up.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of fizzle
Noun
  • Orlando Bloom flashes a shirtless smirk while on vacation in Marmi, Italy on July 26.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • His trademark smirk and knowing stare are now feared by any opponent up against Norway, but don’t be fooled into thinking Haaland isn’t serious about his career.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of smirk
Verb
  • Squirt some disinfectant into the bowl and swish it around with the toilet brush, then flush.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Waiters swished past with little pots of lemon sorbet and glasses of Sprankel, a sparkling wine from Babylonstoren, Roos and Bekker’s farm and hotel in South Africa’s Franschhoek wine valley.
    — Mary Holland, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026
Definition of swish
Noun
  • The remarks quickly drew boos and protests from some audience members, which prompted Mayor Matt Mahan to gavel the meeting back to order.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • One resident urged the board not to reject the proposal outright but rather to create standards for data centers before taking a vote — an opinion that elicited boos from the crowd.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of boo

Browse Nearby Words

hirsute
hiss
hissed
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Cite this Entry

“Hiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiss. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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