as in pants
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gasps
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The rest of the gang rushes inside to be at Eleven’s side and save the children who are trapped inside on the Pain Tree, while Vecna burbles and gasps for air.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
The clashes drew bursts of laughter and, sometimes, gasps, from the show's studio audience and from home viewers.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
In the first photo, Woodruff gasps in surprise and covers her mouth with her hand as Lawley holds her other hand while on bended knee.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Demerzel gasps, and for once Day isn’t preening in the mirror but bowing his head.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Upon announcing her status as a Faithful, the whole room gasps.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The rest of the gang rushes inside to be at Eleven’s side and save the children who are trapped inside on the Pain Tree, while Vecna burbles and gasps for air.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
The clashes drew bursts of laughter and, sometimes, gasps, from the show's studio audience and from home viewers.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
In the first photo, Woodruff gasps in surprise and covers her mouth with her hand as Lawley holds her other hand while on bended knee.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Demerzel gasps, and for once Day isn’t preening in the mirror but bowing his head.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasps
Verb
-
The men’s jeans retail for $145 and the twill pants for $135.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Its large kangaroo pocket—in tandem with the jogger pants’ two deep side pockets—provides plenty of storage for your most important in-flight essentials.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Cover Exposed Roots Sometimes heavy ice and snow heaves newer plants out of the ground.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Both Will Levis and Anthony Richardson are supposedly on the trading block, and there are whispers Derek Carr might be coming out of retirement and needs to find a new team because the Saints have seemingly moved on.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Pressville is a quiet mountain town, but everything's connected through whispers.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That was reflected on the ice for much of his first season, too, when the murmurs were many.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes there were murmurs around the police station from older officers about what Binion got up to back in the day.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Clearing right-of-way strips can result in the loss of trees and native vegetation; crackles, hisses and humming can be heard nearby especially during periods of high humidity; and farm fields and animal habitat can be affected by construction activities.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gasps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasps. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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