breathless

adjective

ˈbreth-ləs How to pronounce breathless (audio)
Definition of breathlessnext
1
as in close
lacking fresh air the room was hot and breathless

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Some of the more breathless estimates bandied about in the last weeks range up into seven figures. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Last night, England played its first game of the tournament—a rematch against Croatia, in Dallas—and the defensive prowess was a speck on the horizon; both sides scored twice in a breathless first half. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026 She’s also written about women’s basketball for The Believer, and recently published a breathless Knicks play-by-play for SB Nation. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 Both Charbonneau and Shaver understood how key the breathless moment between Cay and Vivian was to Deitch’s vision — and didn’t have reservations about filming it, despite their agents’ warnings. — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for breathless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breathless
  1. close
  2. rapid
  3. fallen
  4. suffocating
  5. brisk
  6. dead
  7. stifling
  8. quick
Adjective
  • Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Ashley Smith is the manager of player engagement for the NFL, and the siblings are close.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
Definition of close
Adjective
  • Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • In the hours, sometimes days, leading up to a collapse, the sensors could clearly detect a rapid increase in the ground tilting motion.
    — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • The robot successfully navigated university campuses, forest trails, grassy fields, rocky terrain, staircases, stepping stones, logs, gaps, and fallen branches.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • The suit accuses the fallen celebrity’s people of failing to provide documents clearing two mortgages, which prevented a clean-title transfer.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of fallen
Adjective
  • The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
  • The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.
    — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of suffocating
Adjective
  • Between Sandoval’s 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball and a stupendous collective effort by the Boston bullpen, the Red Sox completed a 2-1 victory and series sweep of the White Sox in a brisk two hours and 32 minutes.
    — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026
  • Weight-bearing activities — brisk walking, climbing stairs, dancing, strength training — signal to the body that the skeleton needs to stay dense and strong.
    — Matthew T. Drake, Fortune, 9 July 2026
Definition of brisk
Adjective
  • The second a driving Kieran Tierney run that left Dani Carvajal for dead and again found McTominay crashing into the box.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Life-threatening flash flooding has hit southern Texas after days of torrential rain, leaving at least two people dead and hundreds of people rescued across the same region struck by last July’s catastrophic floods.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of dead
Adjective
  • For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of stifling
Adjective
  • Built on volume and consistency Beyond cones, Handel’s offers hurricanes, shakes, sundaes and specialty creations that turn a quick stop into a full dessert event.
    — Tristan Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
  • For governments approved for assistance, federal funding could get there quicker — within 30 days of a federal disaster declaration, instead of waiting months or years for reimbursements that are based on proof of expenditures.
    — David A. Lieb, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of quick

Browse Nearby Words

breathing (out)
breathless
breaths
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breathless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breathless. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on breathless

Nglish: Translation of breathless for Spanish Speakers

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