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
Relevance
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
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Nate sighed dramatically before dipping his chin to his chest.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 24 May 2025
So why, exactly, are Disney executives likely breathing a major sigh of relief two mere days into the release of Lilo & Stitch?
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sigh
Verb
Another potential juror, questioned for about 25 minutes, continually sighed and trailed off in his speech.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Nate sighed dramatically before dipping his chin to his chest.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
In the end, the lights came back on across town at about 3:30pm here — and the city heaved an audible sigh of relief.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 24 May 2025
So why, exactly, are Disney executives likely breathing a major sigh of relief two mere days into the release of Lilo & Stitch?
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sigh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sigh
Verb
-
His comments had some in the audience gasping at times, given that the BBC’s role and its relationships with other players tend to be at the center of attention in the U.K. TV world.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
-
Abel, who aced his audition on May 18 with six-shutout innings against the Pirates in a spot start, will get slotted into the rotation while Johnson could get high-leverage innings for a depleted bullpen that’s gasping after losing Jose Alvarado to an 80-game PED suspension.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
There are no tanks on the streets or intelligence agents stamping out whispers of dissent.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
29 May 2025
-
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
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
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
As Rogen’s studio boss, Matt Remick, sweats bullets, Sal is happily snorting cocaine — while still getting the job done.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
23 May 2025
-
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
Verb
-
By comparison, the males with more agreeable personalities sniffed the tubes more calmly.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
28 May 2025
-
Loyal fans and Substack readers looking for deeper dives into a brand world can sniff out when something is done strictly as a marketing play.—
Karin Eldor,
Forbes.com,
28 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
Cite this Entry
“Sigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sigh. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share