Sibilant
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈsɪb.ɪ.lənt/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Sibilant is an adjective meaning Characterized by a hissing or hushing sound such as the s or sh in sack or shack.
Meaning
Characterized by a hissing or hushing sound such as the s or sh in sack or shack.
More Meanings
- (phonetics) A consonant having a hissing or hushing sound such as the s or sh in sack or shack.
Example Sentences
Groove fricatives all have more or less of an [s]-like quality, and are for this reason sometimes called sibilants.
She had a curious habit of prefacing everything she said with a soft sibilant sound. "S-s-s Grace," she said, "it's just like I was telling Brother Hutson the other day. 'S-s-s Brother Hutson,' I said, 'looks like we're fighting a losing battle, a losing battle.' I said."
Word Forms
- sibilants
Synonyms for sibilant
Depending on context, synonyms include hissing, hissy, sibilatory, sibilous, soft, spirant.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include soft, spirant, fricative, rhonchus, rhonchi, sibilatory.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.