as in to throb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the man's heart began to palpitate, and he feared another attack was coming on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 palpitate The Broad palpitated with energy. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025 The finale had the impossible task of putting the monstrous show to an unquiet grave, and while some storylines seemed rushed and others completely ignored, even everyone’s least favorite season of GOT is heart palpitating. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025 Representing heart-palpitating romance is the main storyline: the passion of Megha’s son Naveen (Carol Mazhuvancheril) for his boyfriend, Keshav (Noah Israel), a fellow Hindu who happens to be Caucasian. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2023 The matte, phosphorescent sigils painted onto his robe appeared to palpitate in the low light. Kent Russell, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 In one of the raciest vignettes, a man buys and eats fresh dumplings on a train, intermittently palpitating his sore gums with his fingers. Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 8 May 2020 Angelica Hernández’s heart hasn’t stopped palpitating for a week. Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2020 Angelica Hernández's heart hasn't stopped palpitating for a week. Author: Arelis R. Hernández, Cristina Corujo, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Jan. 2020 The past three seasons, their games were marked by palpitating comebacks. New York Times, 23 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palpitate
Verb
  • Migraines commonly cause dizziness, nausea, throbbing pain on one side of the head and increased sensitivity to light.
    Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Wrist and arm pain: Carpal tunnel syndrome causes throbbing or burning pain in the wrists, certain fingers, and hands.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Comcast beat on a consensus estimate for revenues at $29.68 billion for the first quarter.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Make a well in center of mixture and crack in eggs; whisk eggs until lightly beaten.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Why could not the engineers simply have made the device vibrate and/or light up when locking the door?
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • As news that Williams had been apprehended spread, Dahl’s phone started vibrating with texts from friends.
    Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Standing at the end of the catwalk, the pulsing lights dimmed and stacks of pyro momentarily unseen, the multifaceted singer-songwriter started to strum his acoustic guitar, solo.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Virtually all energy had finally been restored by Tuesday morning, but confusion is still pulsing through Spain.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Palpitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpitate. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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