as in panting
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
the runner was audibly gasping by the end of the marathon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of gasping
When the audio came back on during the broadcast, the audience could be heard gasping — while cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin raised her hands to her face in shock, and Sunny Hostin pursed her lips.
—
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Ally repeatedly asked while gasping as about a dozen of her friends chuckled nearby.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Reactions from the crowd can be heard in the background — with zoo visitors gasping.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The fears of my imagination, the possibility of losing a child due to one inattentive moment, all combined to leave me gasping for breath.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Their difficult, high-flying act left the judges and live audience gasping.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Howard’s best comedies have a light, almost effortless touch, but this one is panting and gasping essentially from the opening frames.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
The laggards, meanwhile, are still gasping for oxygen.
—Rob Day, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Ally repeatedly asked while gasping as about a dozen of her friends chuckled nearby.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Reactions from the crowd can be heard in the background — with zoo visitors gasping.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The fears of my imagination, the possibility of losing a child due to one inattentive moment, all combined to leave me gasping for breath.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Their difficult, high-flying act left the judges and live audience gasping.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Howard’s best comedies have a light, almost effortless touch, but this one is panting and gasping essentially from the opening frames.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
The laggards, meanwhile, are still gasping for oxygen.
—Rob Day, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasping
panting
Verb
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Your dog starts panting and won’t settle down.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Her husband was a bear — wild, panting, with sweat pasting his T-shirt to his chest.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasping. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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