as in gasping
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 hyperventilating
Roscoe pulled over; his daughter started hyperventilating.
—
Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
If this sounds like a laundry list of hyperventilating superlatives, then my work here is largely done.
—Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025
Specifically, a 1940s B-picture conjuring up some heavy Maria Montez mojo, known as Kiss of the Spider Woman — a typically hyperventilating melodrama that featured a vamping diva playing several parts, including the venomous title character.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
As her tribe hugged her in victory, Erickson was crying and hyperventilating while former tribemate Joe Hunter was shown looking on in concern.
—Steve Helling, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The hyperactive plotting runs on hyperventilating prose.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
If this sounds like a laundry list of hyperventilating superlatives, then my work here is largely done.
—Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025
Specifically, a 1940s B-picture conjuring up some heavy Maria Montez mojo, known as Kiss of the Spider Woman — a typically hyperventilating melodrama that featured a vamping diva playing several parts, including the venomous title character.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
As her tribe hugged her in victory, Erickson was crying and hyperventilating while former tribemate Joe Hunter was shown looking on in concern.
—Steve Helling, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The hyperactive plotting runs on hyperventilating prose.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hyperventilating
Verb
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Olivia Miles makes the types of nifty passes that can leave fans gasping in astonishment.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Now, a walk down the block with his kids leaves him gasping for breath and reaching for his oxygen tank.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Eyes wide, panting near panic, Foster perfectly captures the audience's own fear of being alone in the dark with a monster.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Hyperventilating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hyperventilating. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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