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. )

Explanation

Anything that makes a hissing sound has the quality of sibilance, like the sentence "The sassy snake slithered slowly." Sibilance derives from a Latin root, sibilare, which means "to hiss or whistle." There's a certain sibilance in the word itself, with its repeated s sounds. The sound of an angry snake, a whistling wind, a librarian's "Shhhhhh!" or your friend trying to get your attention by saying "Psssst!" — these are all examples of sibilance.

Example Sentences

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 • Jun. 14, 2021

Burmese Days by George Orwell The sweet sibilance of the title alone makes this a compulsory choice.

From The Guardian • Jul. 10, 2019

Mr. Lucci gives Gross immense dignity without shrinking at all from his flamboyance; he italicizes italics and turns sibilance into music.

From New York Times • May 6, 2018

Beyond his singular enunciation, complete with seductive sibilance and unbelievably extended "oooohs", his explanations were vibrant, rich in detail and meticulously researched.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2015

The deletions are tempting to a writer because they tighten up a sentence’s rhythm and avoid the ugly sibilance of which.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• catcall
• hoot