as in gasps
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
he was so nervous he began hyperventilating, and the extra oxygen made him dizzy
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Recent Examples of hyperventilates
Belly hyperventilates and runs to the bathroom to calm down with Taylor.
—
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hyperventilates
Verb
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Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
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Upon announcing her status as a Faithful, the whole room gasps.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Good opposing coaches pants him every time (Loyola, of course, being a particularly painful example).—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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On a recent Friday, Bernhardt dressed up, with a cashmere sweater, a pair of baggy, Free People pants, and a pair of Ugg boots.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hyperventilates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hyperventilates. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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