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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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

Extreme mountain climbing has never looked anything but miserable from the distance of a screening room, and The Other Side delivers mightily on all that scraping, straining, gasping toil. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 The power outages caused by storms that roared through the region nearly two weeks ago have one resident of this Rust Belt city literally gasping for air. — Selina Guevara, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026

Noun

His biggest strength, as on the first album, is writing happy love songs, celebrating passionately enduring relationships between adults who (gasp) like each other. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026 The news, revealed in court earlier in the day, elicited an audible gasp inside the courtroom and prompted Judge William Sullivan to implore jurors to work through their disagreements to break the impasse. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 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

That blast wasn’t as important in this win, but as October approaches, sigh-of-relief homers don’t get much bigger.

— Levi Weaver, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Once the good news was delivered in the Huskies’ locker room last week, there was a collective sigh of relief from the group knowing that their teammate was wronged and it was made right.

— Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of sigh

Verb

One snap later, Allen heaved an end-zone strike to Moore, who almost caught the ball despite cornerback Kamari Lassiter’s interference.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
With nine seconds to play, Underwood dropped back to pass, scrambled and heaved a last-ditch pass that sailed out of bounds.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of heave

Noun

At a time when so much contemporary art jockeys to be spectacular, Op de Beeck’s whispers, both commanding and requiring your attention.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
In a fitting homage, the whiskey's whisper of a smoky, campfire-like finish sets it apart among Kentucky's expansive bourbon scene.

— Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Sep. 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

So even as the national debt recently passed the $40 trillion landmark, there was barely a murmur coming from the party of fiscal responsibility.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
In these murmurs, Ullom wonders how much modern technology has led us astray.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of murmur

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 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gasp

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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