sibilant
/ˈsɪbɪlənt/
adjective
- Making or having a hissing sound, like the letters s, z, sh, or zh.
- Her sibilant whisper was barely audible across the room.
- The snake made a soft sibilant noise as it moved through the grass.
- The old radiator emitted a sibilant hiss of steam.
Synonyms
noun
- A speech sound that is made by forcing air through a narrow channel, such as /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, or /ʒ/.
- When learning pronunciation, students practice distinguishing between different sibilants.
- The poet used many sibilants to create a soft, flowing rhythm.
- In English, the letter 's' is a common sibilant.