Synonyms of palpitate

palpitate

verb

ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt 

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

• throb
• beat
• vibrate
• pulse
• pulsate
• pit-a-pat
• tremble
• pitter-patter
• fluctuate
• oscillate
• quiver

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of palpitate

The heart-palpitating rhythms and glitchy stutters suggest some unholy mix of early Plastikman and Mark Fell, the vestiges of ’90s dance music reanimated into a herky-jerky Frankenstein’s monster. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026

But two sweaty and heart-palpitating afternoons at Foley Field spoke a truth about Georgia, bound for the College World Series for the first time since 2008. — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 8 June 2026

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

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

Angelica Hernández’s heart hasn’t stopped palpitating for a week. — Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2020

The past three seasons, their games were marked by palpitating comebacks. — New York Times, 23 Nov. 2019