whiz 1 of 3

noun (1)

variants or whizz
Definition of whiznext
1
as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the whiz of an arrow flying by at an uncomfortably close range

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion the irritating whiz of a bee in the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whiz

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field the computer whiz to whom we all go when we're having problems, which is fairly often

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wizard
a very smart person one of those whizzes who does very well in every subject

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whiz

3 of 3

verb

ˈ(h)wiz How to pronounce whiz (audio)
variants or whizz
1
as in to hiss
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ just hearing the bullets whiz as they fly by their heads must be terrifying for soldiers

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound many vehicles were whizzing past us at breakneck speeds

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 whiz
Noun
Since the project’s 2023 launch, its hard-charging CEO Jeff Yan (check out Fortune’s profile of the Harvard grad and physics whiz here) has been content to use an offshore cowboy model to grow Hyperliquid. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 Melissa Jenkins recently told The Tennessean that her mom was a gardener and a whiz in the kitchen known for her down-home cooking, specializing in dishes like meat loaf, friend chicken, and macaroni and cheese. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
In an open field, arrows whizzed through the humid June air and struck their targets. — Lydia McFarlane, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026 There’s no better view than from whizzing over the water on these scenic bridges. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiz
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiz
  1. whistle
  2. hum
  3. expert
  4. wizard
  5. hiss
  6. buzz
  7. sizzle
  8. purr
Noun
  • Viel was looking to create a spark, first with a hard forecheck behind the Philadelphia net, then with some elbows after the whistle in front of it.
    — Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The films about them have in turn evolved from coming-of-age stories and stylish bio-pics into whistle-blower dramas and dark thrillers.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of whistle
Noun
  • Jane Marsching, swathed in a deep-blue apron printed with white leaves, hums beneath a linden tree.
    — Kendra Nordin Beato, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The spa Floating above the turquoise waters, the spa is made up of a reception and five different treatment huts—each one soundtracked by the hum of the ocean.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of hum
Noun
  • They are usually still protected by maternal antibodies, experts say.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Rockefeller Foundation has just published a policy proposal – developed in partnership with leading experts – that details how a Growth and Investment Reset could work.
    — Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of expert
Noun
  • Pittol is an ice cream wizard, capable of distilling the essence of nearly any flavor into frozen dessert form.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Since his host has a strict rule about using human avatars in this environment, the bad guy now presents as the gentleman from The Blacklist rocking a wizard’s beard.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of wizard
Verb
  • In the first week of the COVID shutdown, Holmes packed her two hissing black cats, donned an N95 mask and flew to LAX.
    — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This step is what brought us here, to Ponysaurus, filling out the online notice to the tune of a hissing compressor that kept clean air moving through the brewing system.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of hiss
Verb
  • By morning, firefighting aircraft were back in the air dropping water on the Bryson fire in Malibu while the sound of generators purchased by outage-weary residents and business owners buzzed through the canyons.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Matières Fécales and Christian Louboutin’s shoes have been receiving some celebrity buzz lately.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzz
Noun
  • In essence, The Most Dangerous Games is a gamble that the product doesn’t matter as much as the brand, that consumers buy the sizzle, not the steak.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • August's sizzle also helped push the globe and the United States to swelter through the hottest Northern Hemisphere summer scientists have measured.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of sizzle
Noun
  • Highlights and experiences It is always a special event stepping out of Venice’s airport onto a pontoon and a polished mahogany water taxi that drops you off canalside near your hotel, after a purr through the Grand Canal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of purr

Browse Nearby Words

whittling (down)
whiz
whizzed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiz. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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