1
as in close
lacking fresh air
the room was hot and breathless
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2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
ran at a breathless pace to get help
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3
as in fallen
no longer living
carried the breathless body of his beloved dog back home
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breathless
What followed was three months of political maneuvering and breathless international coverage, with the Amethyst stuck in the river all the while.
—
Anne Ewbank, Popular Science, 18 Feb. 2026
The breathless approach taken by Mauricio Pochettino made way for the pragmatism of Jose Mourinho, while a low-block-and-counter-attack approach was short-lived under Nuno Espirito Santo.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
This slow, visible retreat of ice colors every breathless hike, every chilly swim, every preposterously pretty train ride.
—Alice Gregory, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for breathless
Anne Ewbank, Popular Science, 18 Feb. 2026
The breathless approach taken by Mauricio Pochettino made way for the pragmatism of Jose Mourinho, while a low-block-and-counter-attack approach was short-lived under Nuno Espirito Santo.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
This slow, visible retreat of ice colors every breathless hike, every chilly swim, every preposterously pretty train ride.
—Alice Gregory, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for breathless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breathless
Adjective
-
Visiting boats moor in the bay but keep to the far side, close enough to admire and distant enough to ignore.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The senior got the final two outs, which kept the score close enough for the Hawks to tie the score in their half of the fifth inning.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Swift response credited with limiting casualties Davis said the department’s existing deployment in the downtown entertainment district enabled a rapid response.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The only mention of individuals comes at the very end, in a short paragraph that honors three fallen soldiers.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Homemade compost and mulch from fallen leaves are budget-friendly soil amendments.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Daytime temperatures are more mild and the evenings are brisk.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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March is the ultimate transitional month, full of days that might oscillate between brisk winter temperatures and sunny springtime moments.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Israeli officials previously told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Khamenei was dead.—
CLAUDIA CIOBANU,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Officers found a victim upon arrival, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Last year, the swimming portion was canceled because of large swells and the event made a quick pivot by offering a 5K run the night before.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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The Warriors’ center did not travel with the team for its quick two-game road trip to New Orleans and Memphis.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Amplifying the chaos were questions over who will replace Ali Khamenei, Iran’s late leader, who was killed in the aerial barrage over the weekend.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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Israel says one latest attack in the city struck Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breathless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breathless. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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