Definition of wheezenext
as in to gasp
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty he was wheezing rapidly after a hard run

Synonyms & Similar Words

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wheeze

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wheeze
Verb
The previous owners must have doused the property with chemicals, and as summer wheezed toward its smoky end, my lawn became less suburban ideal and more of a pop quiz in weed identification. Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026 Taken together, these factors can lead to children wheezing and experiencing difficulty breathing, leaving them with bluish colored skin from a lack of oxygen. Michael Cromer, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
Everyone understands that smoke causes respiratory problems; all of us cough and wheeze when the air becomes hazardous for weeks at a time. Debra Hendrickson, WIRED, 4 Jan. 2025 The hectic, high-speed insanity of any race in the new Mario Kart World would have caused the eight-year-old Switch console to wheeze a bit. Lou Kesten, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for wheeze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wheeze
Verb
  • Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
  • And when he was questioned by a police officer about his decision to pronounce the boy dead while the child was still gasping for air, the doctor allegedly pulled rank.
    Gabriella Bachara, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • As the halftime whistle blew, fans surely would have been thanking the gods for the respite, not from the heat, but rather the lack of any substantive action.
    Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • From the first whistle until fans exited the parking lots, Colombian supporters who descended upon Kansas City made quite a racket.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • The fire contained compounds from more than two dozen chemical families, including dangerous amounts of bromide, a naturally occurring element that can irritate the skin and mucus membranes.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
  • The bromide has been debunked, but there is power — and delight — in making coffee shop drinks at home.
    Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Dogs primarily regulate heat through panting and small sweat glands in their paw pads, according to the American Kennel Club.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
  • Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Some riders gallivant and whoosh past bystanders, weaving in and out and putting surrounding passersby on edge.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Open spaces whoosh with fresh air.
    Mike Albo, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Wolff was only the eighth woman to drive a Formula 1 car (four more have done it since); the role, a now-commonplace one that includes driving the simulator during Grand Prix weekends to inform trackside strategy, was created for her.
    Danielle McNally, InStyle, 28 May 2026
  • The videos are often integrated into larger montages of drone strikes, underscoring how commonplace these drones have become for Russian forces.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • Keep in the original packaging, but once opened, transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
  • The internal zip pocket kept small valuables, such as my passport, Kindle, and lip balm, accessible without need for rummaging.
    Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, some of America’s most visible business leaders are doing more than offering patriotic platitudes.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • There’s passable yet indistinguishable music in this exact style dropping every day, but the difference with Chicago’s Fatso is that his lyrics feel like scraps of conversations that communicate his hurt without leaning on platitudes.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wheeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wheeze. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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