GASP Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

gasp 1 of 2

verb

ˈgasp

Definition of gasp

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

Police say Coffer was pulled to safety by his boat partner, who told police Simpson fled the scene and the boy was gasping for air. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Sharing a video of the moment, Kotb is seen turning a corner in her house and gasping in shock as she’s confronted with a rainbow fringe curtain in the entrance to her living room. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

Those going into Oak Street blind should be prepared for a few gasp-inducing surprises. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 14 Aug. 2026 And for those of you who’ve spent many happy hours laughing at the Road Runner getting the better of his fanatical pursuer, you’ll be touched to discover that the two have a mutual respect and are even — gasp — friends. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gasp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasp

Verb

The Row Frima pants $3,150 Track Star The track jacket is my fall answer to fashion’s (and my personal) ongoing love affair with sport—styled with a touch of Saint Laurent and Celine polish for everyday or taken full pro athlete à la Balenciaga.

— Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
The delivery person added that none of the canines appeared to have access to food or sufficient water, and that all the animals were panting.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of pant

Noun

At this point, the two begin (deep sigh) performing lines from Romeo and Juliet while dressed as the title characters.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
His arrival at the Mpharane Health Center in the southern African kingdom is met with a sigh of relief from several women, some of them pregnant.

— Mogomotsi Magome, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of sigh

Verb

Canada did just that and then heaved the ball the length of the court to a wide-open Angel Reese with 15 seconds left.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
The Smith experience is always going to be a roller coaster, impressive feats of accuracy and arm talent mixed with desperation heaves and maddening turnovers.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of heave

Noun

Maybe the lasting message of Furious, until its second season arrives, is that there are no answers — or at least, none that can be said louder than a whisper shared between new friends bonding during a jailhouse meeting.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
The extent of his former client list was unearthed through whispers and gossip.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of whisper

Verb

Her husband began hyperventilating beside her and was given a paper bag.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 24 Aug. 2026
News that Nikki Finke had left behind a memoir — and that her estate was seeking a publisher — had half of Hollywood hyperventilating into their Erewhon shopping bags last week.

— Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of hyperventilate

Noun

He was shown a yellow card for excessive celebration, which drew loud boos and hisses from the fans.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
Across 17 tracks, guitar riffs curdle into sheets of distortion, melodies dissolve into electronic hiss, and grooves are chronically interrupted by fresh rhythmic detours.

— Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of hiss

Browse Nearby Words

gasoliers

gasp

gasped

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Style

“Gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasp. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gasp

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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