whiz 1 of 3

variants or whizz
1
as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the whiz of an arrow flying by at an uncomfortably close range

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2

whiz

2 of 3

noun (2)

whiz

3 of 3

verb

variants or whizz
1
as in to whistle
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ just hearing the bullets whiz as they fly by their heads must be terrifying for soldiers

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2
as in to buzz
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound many vehicles were whizzing past us at breakneck speeds

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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 whiz
Noun
Even being a computer whiz or a tech expert doesn’t guarantee practical knowledge about money. Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025 Attempting to fit the ball into tight end Bryson Nesbit over a defender and watching the throw whiz past Nesbit’s fingertips is not a problem. Alec Lewis, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Verb
Drones and missiles whizzed across the border in both directions, with the governments and national media offering dueling claims about targets hit, infrastructure destroyed, and lives lost. Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025 Thrushes, perhaps due to their propensity for whizzing through tight spaces in the shady forest understory, have been disproportionately represented among the victims. Jason Hoeksema, The Conversation, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for whiz
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiz
Verb
  • Participants must bring their own watercraft, personal flotation device, whistle, and a white electric light.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025
  • He was abducted, tortured and brutally murdered for whistling at a white woman outside a store in the heavily segregated South.
    Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Add Hollywood buzz to the mix, and this 1973 bike is a keeper.
    Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Social media platforms, particularly X, buzzed with posts expressing grief, anger, and speculation.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • At one point during the proceedings, Bryant threatened to clear the courtroom after one spectator hissed in disapproval and several others laughed at Hausmann’s assertion that the city had violated the company’s due process rights.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025
  • Warning signs a skunk is ready to spray include jumping, stamping their front feet, arching their back, clicking teeth, and hissing.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • The rookie from Ole Miss — like he was shot out of a cannon — zoomed to starting QB Bryce Young’s blindside, and as the signal-caller prepared to launch the ball, Umanmeielen connected with Young’s arm to force a strip-sack.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2025
  • Colors are also good on shots taken with the telephoto camera, but zooming into the photo reveals a loss of detail, especially around things like individual leaves and branches.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Democrats successfully depicted Bush’s Social Security reform as a threat to Americans’ economic security in their golden years, and Bush’s top priority fizzled without even a congressional vote.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2025
  • However, the connection fizzles out faster than a flat Aperol Spritz once Mercury turns direct.
    Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • Pickford dived to his right to try to keep out a Mason Mount shot and the ball struck one post before zipping across goal, hitting the other upright and pinballing out to the waiting Chelsea captain.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 23 July 2025
  • On a physical level, household tasks can lead to stronger fine-motor skills, which are essential for, say, zipping a jacket and handwriting, and which teachers report have been declining over the past several years.
    Christine Carrig, The Atlantic, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Later, once an Osaka restaurant began serving the dish, the name was shortened to shabu-shabu, which imitates the sound of meat swishing through the hot broth.
    Yukari Sakamoto, AFAR Media, 12 June 2025
  • The ball stayed in the air for what felt like 10 seconds and swished through the net.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • For the 6-foot-6 playmaker known for both style and sizzle, the three-game California Classic summer league that ended Tuesday was anything but classic.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2025
  • The show relays how frenetic back-of-house operations can get, often through the sensory overload created by the Emmy-winning sound team: shouting voices, objects slamming onto countertops, food sizzling on stovetops.
    Abigail Lee, Variety, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiz. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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