as in panting
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
the runner was audibly gasping by the end of the marathon
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Recent Examples of gasping
Then came another jab, and the hairpiece bounced up as if Miller’s scalp was the bottom of a gasping clam.
—
Matt Moret, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The result is a searing drama that had audiences at the National Theatre in London, where the production opened at the end of 2024, gasping in surprise, shock, and sympathy.
—Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
She was allegedly admitted to the hospital and was found in her room the next morning, vomiting and gasping for air.
—Clark Kauffman, Des Moines Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Moments from intubation, gasping for breath, these patients still rejected the idea of the Covid vaccine with the rage that comes from fear.
—Emilie G.c. Thompson, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
That one is a flimsy piano ballad where the duo’s approach to vocals—strangled, swirled and gasping—comes off more annoying than innovative, like a joke that isn’t funny anymore.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 12 Jan. 2026
Those in the audience were heard clapping, cheering and even gasping during the performance.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Fitness influencers gasping through their first seconds of cold immersion.
—Sara Braun, Kansas City Star, 30 Dec. 2025
An excited Woods, in a white fuzzy coat with a white dress underneath, could be seen gasping in shock before smiling in celebration.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Matt Moret, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The result is a searing drama that had audiences at the National Theatre in London, where the production opened at the end of 2024, gasping in surprise, shock, and sympathy.
—Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
She was allegedly admitted to the hospital and was found in her room the next morning, vomiting and gasping for air.
—Clark Kauffman, Des Moines Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Moments from intubation, gasping for breath, these patients still rejected the idea of the Covid vaccine with the rage that comes from fear.
—Emilie G.c. Thompson, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
That one is a flimsy piano ballad where the duo’s approach to vocals—strangled, swirled and gasping—comes off more annoying than innovative, like a joke that isn’t funny anymore.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 12 Jan. 2026
Those in the audience were heard clapping, cheering and even gasping during the performance.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Fitness influencers gasping through their first seconds of cold immersion.
—Sara Braun, Kansas City Star, 30 Dec. 2025
An excited Woods, in a white fuzzy coat with a white dress underneath, could be seen gasping in shock before smiling in celebration.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasping
panting
Verb
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User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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Her dog panting, unquestioning, always thrilled to see her.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasping. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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