hyperventilating

present participle of hyperventilate
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hyperventilating The hyperactive plotting runs on hyperventilating prose. Book Marks september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hyperventilating
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • 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
  • Officers responding to the scene found the dog panting heavily, with excessive drool coating the back seat.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hyperventilating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hyperventilating. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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