Sibilant
adjective /ˈsɪb.ɪ.lənt/ — Making a hissing sound like the letter 's'
Definition
Characterised by or producing a hissing sound — the soft, continuous fricative of 's', 'sh', and 'z' sounds. In poetry, sibilance creates a particular soft texture.
Beyond the definition
The most serpentine of sounds. Sibilance can be soothing (the sea) or sinister (a whispered threat) depending entirely on context.
Origin & history
From Latin 'sibilans' (hissing), present participle of 'sibilare' (to hiss, to whistle). The word hisses as it describes hissing.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The poem's sibilant quality — all those 's' sounds — gave it the texture of wind through grass.
She noticed the sibilant whispering of her name in the crowd before she could locate its source.
Sibilant sounds can be threatening or comforting — the sea uses them both ways.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Sibilant” when the meaning fits your context: Characterised by or producing a hissing sound — the soft, continuous fricative of 's', 'sh', and 'z' sounds. In poetry, sibilance creates a particular soft texture.
Synonyms
hissing, hushing, whispering, fricative
Antonyms
plosive, sharp
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Sibilant" mean?
Sibilant is adjective meaning: Making a hissing sound like the letter 's'. Characterised by or producing a hissing sound — the soft, continuous fricative of 's', 'sh', and 'z' sounds. In poetry, sibilance creates a particular soft texture.
Where does the word "Sibilant" come from?
From Latin 'sibilans' (hissing), present participle of 'sibilare' (to hiss, to whistle). The word hisses as it describes hissing.