Synonyms of breathing

breathing 1 of 2

adjective

as in alive

having or showing life

realized that he didn't need a comic-book superhero, since he had a real, breathing hero in his father

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alive
• live
• living
• animate
• active
• animated
• dynamic
• surviving
• quick
• lively
• thriving
• existing
• vibrant
• vigorous
• current
• going
• existent
• prevailing
• vivacious
• vital
• extant
• resurrected

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cold
• dead
• dying
• inanimate
• deceased
• breathless
• lifeless
• expired
• asleep
• nonliving
• departed
• fading
• defunct
• moribund
• resting
• stillborn
• gone
• ghostly
• absent
• nonexistent
• ghostlike
• vanished
• terminated
• wiped out
• finished
• extinct
• fallen
• lost
• lapsed
• barren
• desert
• reposing
• zombielike
• ghosty
• perished

breathing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of breathe

1

as in snoring

to inhale and exhale air

sometimes it gets so hot in here that it's hard to even breathe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• snoring
• respiring
• gasping
• panting
• wheezing
• inspiring
• huffing
• puffing
• blowing (out)
• inbreathing
• sniffing
• drawing
• snorting
• yawning
• snuffing
• snuffling
• expiring
• whiffing
• suspiring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• choking
• suffocating
• asphyxiating
• smothering
• gagging
• stifling
• strangling
• throttling
• garroting

2

as in living

to have life

as long as I breathe, you will have a place to stay

Synonyms & Similar Words

• living
• being
• existing
• ruling
• subsisting
• surviving
• kicking
• continuing
• keeping (on)
• enduring
• lasting
• leading
• abiding
• flourishing
• persisting
• running on
• moving
• holding on
• holding up
• thriving
• prospering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dying
• departing
• expiring
• succumbing
• perishing
• vanishing
• disappearing
• passing away
• evaporating
• stopping
• ending
• ceasing
• dying (down)
• quitting
• discontinuing
• subsiding
• ebbing
• waning
• moderating
• abating
• desisting
• letting up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of breathing

Verb

In February 2025, more than a year before her death, Aurora was taken to an emergency room by a relative after experiencing asthma symptoms, wheezing and difficulty breathing, according to prosecutors. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

But Sprenger is like Victor Frankenstein, his electronic voice and its warped utterances breathing an uneasiness into everything around it. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

In February 2025, a relative brought Aurora to an emergency room for asthma, wheezing and difficulty breathing. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Kariem was found unresponsive and not breathing when police arrived. — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

During the rescue, the worker was breathing and talking to firefighters. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Although Callum is a year removed from the NICU, every day is still a moment of thanks and improvement for the family, as Callum had to learn the basics like breathing and eating on his own. — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

The toddler choked and foamed at the mouth, then stopped breathing, according to the 10th Circuit’s decision. — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Derek wants to hear Julia audibly breathing next week, which is both a hilarious and insane request. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026