pitter-patter

verb

Definition of pitter-patternext
as in to throb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner his heart pitter-pattered with excitement as he waited for the right moment to propose

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitter-patter
  1. throb
  2. beat
  3. pulse
Verb
  • No sweating, throbbing headache and skin that’s hot, red and dry are signs of heatstroke.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The first is pique, a sharp, vinegary hot sauce that throbs with the heat of Thai chiles.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of throb
Verb
  • Jake Burger homered twice and Ezequiel Duran had his 12th game this season with at least three hits as Texas rallied from two four-run deficits to beat Tampa Bay.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Watson was at the center of one of Week 1’s biggest upsets as the Minutemen won at Rutgers to break a 16-game losing streak and beat an FBS opponent for the first time since 2023.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of beat
Verb
  • The six-page document did not exactly pulse with fiery rhetoric.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Stream in the buttermilk while pulsing and pulse just enough to bring the dough together.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of pulse
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

pitted
pitter-patter
pitter-pattered
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Cite this Entry

“Pitter-patter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitter-patter. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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