gasp 1 of 2

verb

ˈgasp How to pronounce gasp (audio)
Definition of gaspnext
as in to pant
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty the runner was audibly gasping by the end of the marathon

Synonyms & Similar Words

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gasp

2 of 2

noun

as in sigh

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Dissimilar 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 gasp
Verb
Abrams does yeoman’s work with a character stuck in a tight spot for most of the running time, constantly grunting and gasping with a mixture of anguish and exhaustion as his body gets progressively more beat up and broken. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 At the premiere, the audience audibly gasped and cheered, even though Austen’s story is well known to many. — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
But as Madsen received the snap, a quick gasp went around the stadium as Madsen appeared to fumble the ball behind him. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2026 Evans would have one last gasp but was way too far out to try to grab the briefcase. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasp
  1. pant
  2. sigh
  3. heave
  4. whisper
  5. hyperventilate
  6. murmur
  7. gurgle
  8. hiss
Verb
  • As Europe panted through rolling heatwaves this summer, I became drawn in by The Perfect Prescription anew.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • These Stelle pants in particular, are every bit as stretchy and cooling as your go-to wide-leg pants, thanks to the moisture-wicking fabric that keeps you sweat-free.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of pant
Noun
  • The early look at Kimberly-Clark's third-quarter numbers Thursday was a sigh of relief.
    — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This past weekend, Southern Californians breathed a collective sigh of relief as an oppressive heat wave broke.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sigh
Verb
  • Jeremy Chinn sealed it with a toe-tapping interception in the end zone on a desperation heave by Geno Smith in the closing seconds.
    — CBS New York Team, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Pitt quarterback Holden Geriner heaved a pass downfield into a crowd of players.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of heave
Noun
  • There are whispers of a speakeasy opening downstairs in the coming months, which gives the restaurant extra potential to become a go-to dinner spot that seamlessly transitions into a night out.
    — Ali Domrongchai, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • There’s an initial burst of salt and crunch, then a rolling thunder of jerk spice, spiked with the vibrant, herbal freshness of Caribbean green seasoning and a whisper of cinnamon and nutmeg.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Becerra seems to either be suppressing a cough or hyperventilating at the bit of responding to Hilton’s vaccine vacuousness.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Her husband began hyperventilating beside her and was given a paper bag.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of hyperventilate
Noun
  • The same can’t be said of a busy indoor environment, where some of the loud background comes through as a murmur and the mics struggle to capture my voice intelligibly.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Following murmurs of a cameo, director James Watkins confirmed that Aaron Paul makes a brief appearance in the DCU movie as Matt’s (Harries) father, who raised him in the slums of Gotham City.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of murmur
Noun
  • There are mud pools from Yellowstone National Park that have a squeamish gurgle, and hearing them amid a crackling bonfire feels unexpectedly harmonious, even plausible.
    — Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Her stomach made an audible gurgle.
    — Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Definition of gurgle
Noun
  • The two sides fired white, smoky volleys, their guns making a black-powder hiss-bang.
    — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • There is just the slow hiss and sigh of the machines, tucked safely out of sight, as social media filled with resistance to mask mandates, to empathy and authority, to the power of the state, and the chorus of anti-vaxxers grew.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of hiss

Browse Nearby Words

gasoliers
gasp
gasped
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Cite this Entry

“Gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasp. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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