1
as in close
lacking fresh air
the room was hot and breathless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
ran at a breathless pace to get help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fallen
no longer living
carried the breathless body of his beloved dog back home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 breathless
For a breathless moment, Patterson was alone with the lights circling his aircraft.
—
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
The Kings stormed back from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime before suffering a 134-133 loss before a breathless crowd of 16,382 at Moda Center in Portland.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
If the Irish and Tide really were that close, Georgia’s decisive win felt like a tiebreaker, which, on top of BYU’s loss, could not only send Notre Dame into the CFP, but make the sport’s breathless debate of the past month moot.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2025
And without wishing to sound too breathless or gushing about it all, Singita really is the ne plus ultra of African safaris—its unique blend of luxury, genuinely impactful conservation, and mind-bogglingly attentive levels of service sets it in another league.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breathless
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
The Kings stormed back from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime before suffering a 134-133 loss before a breathless crowd of 16,382 at Moda Center in Portland.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
If the Irish and Tide really were that close, Georgia’s decisive win felt like a tiebreaker, which, on top of BYU’s loss, could not only send Notre Dame into the CFP, but make the sport’s breathless debate of the past month moot.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2025
And without wishing to sound too breathless or gushing about it all, Singita really is the ne plus ultra of African safaris—its unique blend of luxury, genuinely impactful conservation, and mind-bogglingly attentive levels of service sets it in another league.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breathless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breathless
Adjective
-
Traffic concerns remained a prominent theme of the more than 100 emails the city received in early December, but many people expressed excitement at the prospect of a closer Costco.—
Rose Evans
January 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The Clippers raced to a 14-5 lead, but the Knicks answered with eight straight points and the game was close for the first three quarters.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Season One concludes with the Texas Tech geology graduate abandoning a well crew after tragedy strikes, only to achieve rapid success in his personal and work endeavors.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The fallen deputy was born and raised in Miami-Dade, having been born in Baptist Hospital and attended Miami Killian Senior High School.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Chapter veterans from branches of the military will honor 300 fallen service members from Southern California who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with special memorial markers.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite his team not needing to throw the football much thanks to a suffocating defensive performance (Trevor Lawrence attempted just 22 passes in Jacksonville's 35-6 win over the Chargers), Meyers still received six targets and produced five catches for 64 yards.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Nov. 2025
-
The Vikings never seemed to know what was coming next during the Chargers’ comprehensive 37-10 victory, unable to contend with Herbert and the offense or solve a suffocating defense that sacked Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz five times and limited him to only 144 yards passing.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
At Glenlaurel Inn & Spa nearby, inventive food and plush cabins balance brisk hikes for a perfectly woodsy winter getaway.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The show has been doing brisk business, with the most recent box office figures (for the Broadway week ending January 4) reporting attendance at 96% of the venue’s capacity.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The cemetery of good but dead laws is infinite; the main thing is that social forces exist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
These ghosts, which take the form of their dead friends, are mostly just goofy, with the shoddy special effects and glowy auras giving the whole thing a distinctly Haunted Mansion vibe; critically, the threat never feels real, which undermines any tension.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
As Beck spoke on the crowded field afterward, Cristobal swept past and stopped for quick bear hug.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Most people drive up a Forest Service Road for quicker access, putting them at the beginning of a two-mile out-and-back trail with roughly 2,500 feet of elevation gain.—
Outside,
Outside,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 prompted unified Western sanctions, massive military aid, and rhetorical solidarity, but by late 2025, strategic divergences had widened amid battlefield stalemates, economic fatigue, and diplomatic initiatives.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Ahmad Moten was fortunate not to be called for what was clearly a late hit.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breathless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breathless. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share