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Hiss

/hɪs/

A sibilant sound, such as that made by a snake or escaping steam; an unvoiced fricative.

📖 Definitions of "Hiss"

noun
  1. 1

    A sibilant sound, such as that made by a snake or escaping steam; an unvoiced fricative.

  2. 2

    An expression of disapproval made using such a sound.

verb
  1. 1

    To make a hissing sound.

    "As I started to poke it, the snake hissed at me."

  2. 2

    To condemn or express contempt (for someone or something) by hissing.

    "The crowd booed and hissed her off the stage."

  3. 3

    To utter (something) with a hissing sound.

  4. 4

    To move with a hissing sound.

    "The arrow hissed through the air."

🔄 Synonyms of "Hiss"

12 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

WordDefinition
snortnounThe sound made by exhaling or inhaling roughly through the nose.
sibilateverbTo hiss.
hootnounThe cry of an owl.
sissnoun(colloquial, intransitive) To make a hissing sound.
boonounA derisive shout made to indicate disapproval.
razzingnoun(informal) Teasing or heckling.
birdnounAn animal of the clade (traditionally class) Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, having a beaked mouth, and laying eggs.
raspberrynounThe juicy aggregate fruit of these plants.
whooshnounA breathy sound like that of an object passing at high speed.
hissingnounThe sound of a hiss.
sizznoun(rare or archaic) To fizz, sizzle.
bronx cheernoun(US, idiomatic) Synonym of raspberry (“a sound intended to resemble flatulence made by blowing air out of the mouth while the tongue is protruding from and pressed against the lips, used humorously or to express disdain or scorn”).

↔️ Antonyms of "Hiss"

Words with the opposite meaning.

WordDefinition
acclaimnoun(transitive) To express great approval (for).
clapnounThe act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together.
applaudverb(transitive, intransitive) To express approval (of something) by clapping the hands.
spatverbA brief argument, falling out, quarrel.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Hiss"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
sissnoun(colloquial, intransitive) To make a hissing sound.
sibilateverbTo hiss.
hootnounThe cry of an owl.
boonounA derisive shout made to indicate disapproval.
whooshnounA breathy sound like that of an object passing at high speed.
bronx cheernoun(US, idiomatic) Synonym of raspberry (“a sound intended to resemble flatulence made by blowing air out of the mouth while the tongue is protruding from and pressed against the lips, used humorously or to express disdain or scorn”).
snortnounThe sound made by exhaling or inhaling roughly through the nose.
sizznoun(rare or archaic) To fizz, sizzle.
birdnounAn animal of the clade (traditionally class) Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, having a beaked mouth, and laying eggs.
raspberrynounThe juicy aggregate fruit of these plants.
razzingnoun(informal) Teasing or heckling.
whistlenoun(ambitransitive) To make a shrill, high-pitched sound by forcing air through the mouth. To produce a whistling sound, restrictions to the flow of air are created using the teeth, tongue and lips.
algernounA surname.
shushverb(onomatopoeia, transitive or intransitive) To ask someone to be quiet, especially by saying shh.
sizzlenoun(intransitive) To be exciting or dazzling.
soughnounTo make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
swishnoun(British, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.
susurrateverb(intransitive) To whisper.
whizznoun(British) Alternative spelling of whiz. [A whirring or hissing sound (as above).]
hushnoun(intransitive) To become quiet.

Words Strongly Associated with "Hiss"

These words statistically appear in the same text as "hiss" (Google Books Ngrams).

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