sigh 1 of 2

as in to gasp
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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sigh

2 of 2

noun

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 sigh
Verb
One particularly telling piece of feedback came from a team member who observed that when asked for clarification, Ms. Sharp responded with visible frustration—sighing and rolling her eyes—which made people hesitant to seek guidance. Katrina Burrus, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025 Oakey stared at the blank screen and seemingly sighed, and then reluctantly turned towards the window. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
Contempt can also seep through nonverbal cues such as eye rolls, heavy sighs and sarcasm. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025 But Kamilla just smirks, and Mitch lets out a sigh of relief. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sigh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sigh
Verb
  • For anyone who’s ever been on a ventilator, death by suffocation is a paralyzing terror and Carson wholly sells this nightmare, painfully gasping for air and gurgling horribly as his nurse call button slips out of reach.
    Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 2025
  • Art flop: When a bronze head by the master sculptor Alberto Giacometti failed to sell at Sotheby’s auction, the audience gasped.
    German Lopez, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • One legend says workers found fake coins during excavations on the site; others hold whispers of kings, assassinations and shady land ownership.
    Lily Radziemski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • There are no tanks on the streets or intelligence agents stamping out whispers of dissent.
    Leila Fadel, NPR, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace seem to have huffed an entire boxed set of Friday Night Lights before sitting down to brainstorm Landman.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025
  • The bear growled, huffed and clacked her teeth — making sure her message of getting away from her cubs got across.
    Benjamin Alva Polley, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • But reports of an impending deal have become such a constant background murmur that few observers count on a diplomatic breakthrough to head off the new operation.
    Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
  • The water was warm, the voices from the beach a murmur.
    Karl Ove Knausgaard, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • By then, the toxic soup Bill had breathed in during all those months on the Pile were taking their toll on the retired cop’s body.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
  • At Bonniers Konsthall, with its low mechanical rhythm and amorphous forms, the sculpture breathes and shudders in a space that feels eerily alive—a shelter of desire, decay, and instability.
    Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • And over the course of two years, Cawthorn kept the district in the headlines through various scandals from bringing weapons to airports and schools to allegations of insider trading to accusing his colleagues of snorting cocaine and having orgies.
    Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025
  • This particular mund, near the road,owned about 20 buffaloes, and as our driver was watching them, an old bull lifted his head, snorted, and stamped his feet.
    Cyril E. Holland, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Last year, before his arrest, a video of Jordan allegedly sniffing an unidentified white substance went viral, resulting in social media criticism.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 20 May 2025
  • In the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, Carlos worked with dogs trained to sniff out bombs and improvised explosive devices during one of the most stressful periods of his two decades in the military.
    Daniel Bean, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • There's a push, and suddenly, a newborn's first cry replaces the mother's moans.
    Laura Gómez, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The eyes start rolling and the moans come out when dudes get super gooned.
    Mikelle Street, Them., 6 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sigh. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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