HUM Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

hum 1 of 2

noun

Definition of hum

as in purr

a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion we heard the hum of an outboard motor and a few minutes later the small craft came into sight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hum

2 of 2

verb

ˈhəm

as in to burst

to be copiously supplied one restaurant was humming with diners, while a neighboring eatery was practically empty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to buzz

to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound a helicopter hummed overhead

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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 hum

Noun

Scattered on the dunes, the surviving population of Gaza was reduced to bare existence, subject to unrelenting hunger and thirst under the ever-present hum of killer drones and bomber jets. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 At Maywood’s Riverfront Park, Ma was accompanied by the vroom of nearby traffic, cascade of a yucca rainstick and burbling hum of a water synth. — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Verb

On the other hand, it has also been credited for keeping the US economy humming, as wealthier Americans keep spending and businesses keep hiring. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 There’s a peculiar feedback loop humming around To Catch a Predator right now. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hum

Noun

Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
In the mid-1970s, Slash’s mother, the costume designer Ola Hudson, worked on the American production of The Rocky Horror Show, whose Frank-N-Furter is the unmistakable touchstone of Bourzgui’s David, down to the depraved purr.

— Sarah Grant, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of purr

Verb

Authorities rescued residents from high water in several areas in Indiana, including Delaware, Madison, Wayne and Henry counties as rivers burst their banks.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Lavandeira also defended her brother, who in the early aughts burst onto the internet’s celebrity culture and gossip scene with shocking headlines and often lewd doodles over celeb images.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of burst

Verb

The lodge is usually buzzing with guests playing card games, enjoying daily happy hour, or sitting by the roaring fireplace.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
In the now-notorious moment, Rock, 61, made a joke directed at Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s buzzed haircut.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of buzz

Noun

Moves for Anan Khalaili and Zavier Gozo are being finalised, and with both able to play right wing-back, there are whispers Daniel Munoz may be sold.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
That is, the ability to provide the benefits of modern speech interfaces without the need for users to speak audibly, even at a whisper.

— Greg Uyeno, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of whisper

Verb

As the compressed sides bulge outward under load, the tower’s structural strength drops sharply, frequently triggering sudden buckling or catastrophic collapse.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
Okegbe recommends immediately discarding any can that’s bulging, leaking, heavily rusted, or dented.

— Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026

Definition of bulge

Verb

After 20 years zipping across the galaxy, saving the planet from falling meteors and alien invaders, Hal is resting on his laurels.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026
For three consecutive evenings, just before dark, this bird zipped to the dining table, gobbled down a quick meal, then hurried back to its roost.

— Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of zip

Browse Nearby Words

hulls

hum

human

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“Hum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hum. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hum

noun

verb

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