Synonyms of hyperventilating

hyperventilating

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gasping
• panting
• wheezing
• heaving
• puffing
• snoring
• choking
• blowing
• huffing
• gulping
• gagging
• being out of breath
• asphyxiating
• exhaling
• smothering
• stifling
• strangling
• snuffling
• expiring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hyperventilating

Her husband began hyperventilating beside her and was given a paper bag. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 24 Aug. 2026

News that Nikki Finke had left behind a memoir — and that her estate was seeking a publisher — had half of Hollywood hyperventilating into their Erewhon shopping bags last week. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

She was even famously hospitalized for hyperventilating while watching a Lakers game from home. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026

Roscoe pulled over; his daughter started hyperventilating. — Sean Gregory, Time, 9 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

The hyperactive plotting runs on hyperventilating prose. — Book Marks september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025