pit-a-patting

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
Verb
  • Over ominous, throbbing music, the lights start flashing, the tension starts building, and then, finally, Godzilla enters from stage right.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Nothing except my ankle, which was throbbing painfully.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The foetal beat of air beats all around Helm like a beating heart (must elegantly variate).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • In March 2019, a week before the letter was published, the Axeman attacked the Cortimiglia family, beating grocery owner Charlie and his wife Rosie with an axe.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The cynic in me is cautious and keenly aware of the often empty allure of nostalgia, while the teen girl who spent her entire summer job money on an Xbox 360 and Halo 3 is vibrating with excitement.
    Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
  • My jaw stopped clacking and my body stopped vibrating.
    Bill Shaber, Outdoor Life, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tramel conversationally chants as pulsing synths flare and wild guitar blares.
    Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The drums are gentle and stirring; the arrangement evokes a pulsing lullaby.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
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.

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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 3 Nov. 2025.

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