pit-a-patting

verb

present participle of pit-a-pat
as in throbbing
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner her heart pit-a-patted with surprise

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pit-a-patting
  1. throbbing
  2. beating
  3. vibrating
  4. pulsing
Verb
  • Workers are paying for it as the people in charge mostly ignore our throbbing national headache.
    — Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 8 July 2026
  • When Marlowe awoke the next morning, her head was still throbbing and Declan's side was empty, the sheets lineless.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of throbbing
Verb
  • Despite a middling 50-51 record, the Padres are within two games of the National League’s final wild-card spot after beating the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on Tuesday.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The beating sun, and therefore sweaty, sunburned skin, demands a looser fit that’s light-as-air, and this popover style is perfect to throw on and go.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 21 July 2026
Definition of beating
Verb
  • Warm objects emit electromagnetic radiation, or light, because their atoms and molecules are constantly vibrating.
    — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
  • Kary watched from her backyard as the house was demolished, her feet vibrating beneath her.
    — Jena Brooker, ProPublica, 6 July 2026
Definition of vibrating
Verb
  • And the pulsing strip that is Ocean Drive is a short stroll away for quick dips in the ocean, classic Art Deco façades, and buzzy nightlife.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026
  • That’s several large cities’ worth of energy pulsing through a few big warehouses, all dedicated to bots.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026
Definition of pulsing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

pit-a-patted
pit-a-patting
pit bull
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Cite this Entry

“Pit-a-patting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pit-a-patting. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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