as in to throb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the man's heart began to palpitate, and he feared another attack was coming on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 palpitate The Broad palpitated with energy. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025 The finale had the impossible task of putting the monstrous show to an unquiet grave, and while some storylines seemed rushed and others completely ignored, even everyone’s least favorite season of GOT is heart palpitating. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025 Representing heart-palpitating romance is the main storyline: the passion of Megha’s son Naveen (Carol Mazhuvancheril) for his boyfriend, Keshav (Noah Israel), a fellow Hindu who happens to be Caucasian. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2023 The matte, phosphorescent sigils painted onto his robe appeared to palpitate in the low light. Kent Russell, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 In one of the raciest vignettes, a man buys and eats fresh dumplings on a train, intermittently palpitating his sore gums with his fingers. Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 8 May 2020 Angelica Hernández’s heart hasn’t stopped palpitating for a week. Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2020 Angelica Hernández's heart hasn't stopped palpitating for a week. Author: Arelis R. Hernández, Cristina Corujo, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Jan. 2020 The past three seasons, their games were marked by palpitating comebacks. New York Times, 23 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palpitate
Verb
  • Migraines commonly cause dizziness, nausea, throbbing pain on one side of the head and increased sensitivity to light.
    Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Wrist and arm pain: Carpal tunnel syndrome causes throbbing or burning pain in the wrists, certain fingers, and hands.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Her defense has raised the possibility that someone else beat him to death and left him in the cold.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Her decision to turn down the Apple beat at the Journal in 2007, the year the iPhone was released, in order to pursue an M.F.A. in fiction propels an exploration of how much human creativity depends on the ideas and labor of others.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The shock of the President Trump tariffs still vibrates through the world.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The vibrating bar also assists with lymphatic drainage, ably contouring, defining, and depuffing the face.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • And in this exhibition, that freedom pulses through every thread, every shadow, and every map drawn from life’s encounters.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Remember, a lot of that money is coming back as taxes and certainly was going to pulse through U.S. shops and enterprises.
    Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Palpitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpitate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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