pit-a-patting

Definition of pit-a-pattingnext
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
  • The air was throbbing with the sounds of helicopters coming close and pulling away.
    Karan Mahajan, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
  • The song now opens with throbbing synth bass that completely transforms its mood and style.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Broomfield city councilman Kenny Nguyen was appointed to serve House District 33 on Monday night, narrowly beating fellow councilwoman Heidi Henkel in a 16-15 vote.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The Bruins won for the fifth time in six games despite going 0 for 6 on the power play a day after beating the Rangers 10-2.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Behind them, the device began vibrating.
    Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026
  • ViberAlert is essentially a smart motorcycle seat insert equipped with vibrating actuators that deliver real-time haptic feedback directly to your backside.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Marty’s attempt to break out of postwar poverty, for example, feels modern; it’s even set to a pulsing soundtrack full of ’80s–New Wave hits.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
  • The pulsing vocal could be heard from Manchester, to London, to party island Ibiza, often heard in a rendition similar to that of a football chant.
    Kelly Washington, Refinery29, 22 Dec. 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 17 Jan. 2026.

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