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Glite Dictionary
hushing

hushing

1 7.2
A soft 'sh' sound people make to tell others to be quiet or show dislike
  • noun
  • /ˈhʌʃɪŋ/
translation icon : susurro
  • The hushing from the audience made it clear they disapproved of the performance.

Examples

  • Her voice is replaced by a soft hushing.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Making hushing sounds, they enclosed the old lady like brackets and led her away.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • As Du Bois wrote almost a century ago in defense of himself and other black dissenters of his day: "The hushing of the criticism of honest opponents is a dangerous thing."

    Academic text (1996)

  • After a loud argument, there was a hushing sound that fell over the room as everyone became silent.

  • He made a gentle hushing noise to calm the frightened child.

Synonyms

hiss
vshushing
47 1.1

A sharp, high sound like a snake or from people showing disapproval

is used to quiet someone rather than merely express disapproval or be natural
hissing
vshushing
44 2.6

A long sharp s sound made by animals, objects, or people to show disapproval

is shorter and aimed at quieting someone rather than long sound

Antonyms

cheer
205 1.0

A loud shout people make to show approval or support

Surface Forms

hushing singular
hushings plural

Morphology

hushing = hush (transparent) = hush + ing

The noun 'hushing' is derived from the verb 'hush' with the addition of the gerund suffix '-ing', clearly indicating the action or process of making quiet.

Etymology

The word hushing comes from the quiet word hush and the soft sound sh that people make when they want others 'to be quiet'. It copies the soft 'shh' noise, so a hushing is the noise or action that stops talking or shows disapproval.