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
The powerful primate makes contact with the glass wall with a heavy thud, which leaves the group near the wall gasping and yelping in fear.
—
Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 14 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
Whoopi Goldberg informed the studio audience of his death live on the air, with some gasping.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 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
An electrician described gasping for air while hospitalized with Legionnaire's.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 14 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
Whoopi Goldberg informed the studio audience of his death live on the air, with some gasping.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 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
An electrician described gasping for air while hospitalized with Legionnaire's.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasping
panting
Verb
-
The dog was panting and shifting from one foot to the other.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 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
Cite this Entry
“Gasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasping. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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