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Glite Dictionary
😠 Easily upset 😡 A tantrum 🐍 Making a hissing sound
hissy

hissy

7.7
Making a sharp 'sss' sound to show anger or fear
  • adjective
  • /ˈhɪsi/
translation icon : siseante
  • Her voice became hissy as she expressed her frustration with the delay.

I just kind of wish that the noise cancelling wasn't as hissy as it is.

Examples

  • The cat made a hissy sound when the dog got too close.

  • But noise, it kind of sounds hissy, right?

  • I just kind of wish that the noise cancelling wasn't as hissy as it is.

    UrAvgConsumer

  • When he is angry, he often lets out a hissy breath.

Synonyms

snorty
vshissy
  • UK
1 9.7

Feeling annoyed and in a bad mood

is an audible sibilant expression of annoyance rather than a personality trait
shrieky
vshissy
1 7.2

Making a very high, loud, annoying sound that hurts your ears

is a sibilant angry sound that is thinner and less loud
grumbly
vshissy
1 4.4

Feeling annoyed and often complaining about things

is a sharper sibilant sound showing anger rather than low complaint
growly
vshissy
  • Informal
7.1

Showing irritation and wanting to be left alone

is an audible sibilant sign of anger rather than a silent mood

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

serene
38 3.9

Calm and peaceful, not showing worry or strong feelings

How Hissing

sizzling
3 3.4
hissy
7.7
sibilant
  • Specialized
8.3

Surface Forms

hissy positive

Morphology

hissy = hiss (transparent) = hiss + y

This adjective is directly formed from the noun/verb 'hiss' with the productive adjectival suffix '-y' meaning 'characterized by hissing'.

Etymology

Hissy is related to the sound 'hiss', which animals like cats or snakes make when they are angry or scared. That's why hissy can mean 'making a hissing sound' as a sign of anger or annoyance.