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

Relevance

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. 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
  • Even with a relatively small sample size, the anomaly stuck out like a giant, red, throbbing sore thumb — a favorite gag in animation.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Portugal’s coastline throbs with beach goers and sports enthusiasts.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The senior completed 19 of 26 passes for 142 yards and three TDs as Granada beat Monte Vista 19-7.
    Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Analysts are often effusive in their praise of companies on their earnings calls after results beat expectations or a forecast is particularly impressive.
    Ari Levy, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Microneedling is a treatment that uses thin, vibrating needles to puncture your skin.
    Carley Millhone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • As internal organs make sounds, the diaphragm begins to vibrate.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On the other side of a partition separating Archive’s dual personalities, the club area will be bathed in rainbow hues of dancing lights, while music from DJ sets will pulse through the building.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The British supermodel brought her A-game to the fall campaign shoot, throwing her hands up in the air and letting her hair fly as the club lights pulsed and strobes flickered around her.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Palpitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpitate. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on palpitate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!