gasp 1 of 2

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

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
Residents complained to the British press about the associated inconvenience, recounting road closures (leading to, gasp, wet crops), bad American driving, and an indiscreet Secret Service presence. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025 Then players from both sidelines began rushing to the field for a lot of pushing and shoving and even (gasp) tackling when there wasn’t supposed to be any of that for these sessions. Terence Moore, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
After a moment, the woman gasped for air. Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025 Their difficult, high-flying act left the judges and live audience gasping. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasp
Verb
  • Our elders know how to make tools and sealskin pants the right way.
    Jennie Punter, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Howard’s best comedies have a light, almost effortless touch, but this one is panting and gasping essentially from the opening frames.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Grammy-winning artist, who testified over two days in the trial last week, reacted with a sigh of relief to the verdict.
    Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Whatever, it was greeted with a collective sigh of relief.
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Several mega-talented Georgia defensive backs appeared to short-circuit and forget how to track a ball in the air on Tennessee heaves.
    Jason Kirk, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The first was a 71-yard TD heave on the opening drive of the second half.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The result was a ghostly, otherworldly sound that could shift from whispers to booming calls depending on the breath.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The results cast doubt on whether the plumes truly carry whispers of alien life, or merely echoes of lifeless chemistry on the frozen shell.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The hyperactive plotting runs on hyperventilating prose.
    Book Marks September 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Some may also hyperventilate, which can lead to fainting as well.
    Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Mindy does have a heart murmur that will need to be kept an eye on with her future vet but that does not slow her down.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • There were murmurs in the organization about whether the pain in his knee was not the result of injury, but rather disinterest.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Shot against the stunning backdrops of New Zealand, the campaign shows how even the smallest moments of a morning ritual — from the hiss of steam to the first swirl of crema — can embody calm and indulgence.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Bose and the Sony earbuds introduce a layer of hiss to the audio, which detracts from how natural their transparency modes sound.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • High in the hills near the Myanmar border, Ban Rak Thai greets the morning with the smell of oolong and the soft rustle of tea leaves.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • As Denver’s locker room echoes with the empty rustles of equipment staffers, Jahdae Barron lingers.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasp. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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