as in devouring
to swallow or eat greedily
inhaled the doughnuts so quickly that you would have missed it if you blinked
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Recent Examples of inhaling
Nearly all the health damage from smoking comes from inhaling smoke produced by burning tobacco, not from nicotine itself.
—
Kevin Bardosh, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2026
Keep peppermint oil away from babies and young children, as inhaling the menthol in the oil may cause serious side effects for them.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2026
Thousands more firefighters, fire officers, EMTs and recovery workers are battling cancers, lung disease, heart conditions, digestive disorders and other chronic illnesses caused by inhaling Ground Zero toxins.
—CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
One of the trailer’s sharpest beats shows Charli screaming at Tim (Jamie Demetriou) in frustration while inhaling a cigarette.
—Riann Phillip, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Some research suggests that inhaling the aroma of spearmint may effectively reduce nausea and vomiting related to certain conditions.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Dec. 2025
As a precaution, avoid inhaling all powder products.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025
Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, typically contracted by inhaling spores found in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Dec. 2025
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling the Legionella bacteria in small droplets of water mixed in the air or contaminated water accidentally going into your lungs.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2025
Kevin Bardosh, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2026
Keep peppermint oil away from babies and young children, as inhaling the menthol in the oil may cause serious side effects for them.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2026
Thousands more firefighters, fire officers, EMTs and recovery workers are battling cancers, lung disease, heart conditions, digestive disorders and other chronic illnesses caused by inhaling Ground Zero toxins.
—CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
One of the trailer’s sharpest beats shows Charli screaming at Tim (Jamie Demetriou) in frustration while inhaling a cigarette.
—Riann Phillip, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Some research suggests that inhaling the aroma of spearmint may effectively reduce nausea and vomiting related to certain conditions.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Dec. 2025
As a precaution, avoid inhaling all powder products.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025
Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, typically contracted by inhaling spores found in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Dec. 2025
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling the Legionella bacteria in small droplets of water mixed in the air or contaminated water accidentally going into your lungs.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhaling
Verb
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Matias Cid, a 25-year-old student who lives in Penco, described fast-moving flames burning through the night and devouring homes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2026
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Kelson sees the fragments of the individual left in this person the virus has turned into a brain-devouring behemoth and wonders at them.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Protostars are messy and dynamic, gulping down material in spurts and fits and ejecting powerful outflows of wind and jets that punch into the surrounding clouds.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
16 Jan. 2026
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The cayenne pepper lingers on the tongue for a full minute after gulping the shot down.—
April Benshosan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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More people and new developments are cramming into Florida’s last-remaining greenspace, Lindsey O’Donnell said.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
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Tens of thousands of residents are living with relatives, cramming into rental apartments or living in public buildings.—
Aref Tufaha,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inhaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inhaling. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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