sibilance

American  

[sib-uh-luhns] / ˈsɪb ə ləns /

Rarely sibilancy

noun

1. a hissing quality of sound, or the hissing sound itself.

   I stretched out comfortably in my sleeping bag, peering up at the stars and listening to the ocean's gentle sibilance.

   The older, poorer quality recordings had more than a hint of sibilance.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsibilance noun
• subsibilance noun

Etymology

Origin of sibilance

First recorded in 1800–10; sibil(ant) ( def. ) + -ance ( def. )

Example Sentences

Similarly, on “JumpOutTheHouse,” he delivers the titular refrain by accentuating the sibilance in the word “house” so that it sounds like the word is cleaving the air as it gets pulled down to earth.

From Washington Post

The EQ has improved refinement, though it’s still the usual curve that lifts the bass and treble, and highs can sometimes give off more sibilance than I’d prefer.

From The Verge

One of the trombonists folded tin foil across the bell of his horn, creating a restless sibilance underneath the crystal tones and rough growls of his bandmates.

From New York Times

“If I had,” this dainty woman says mildly, with a faintly Teutonic sibilance, “I would be getting out of prison right about now.”

From Washington Post

They support Qualcomm’s AptX standard, their bass has a nice punch and heft to it, there’s no harshness or sibilance to the trebles, and all across the audio spectrum their sound is clear and balanced.

From The Verge

Related Words

• catcall
• hoot