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
  • 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
  • There have been plenty of times when my feet throbbed after hours of sightseeing.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026
Definition of throb
Verb
  • The last time two American women played in the Cincinnati final was in 1970, when Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey.
    — Jeff Wallner, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • A day earlier, the Buccaneers had beaten the Panthers in their final game of the regular season, only to witness Carolina claim the NFC South anyway.
    — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of beat
Verb
  • Just pulsing in their Petri dishes, contemplating moral relativity or migraines.
    — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Their ancient origins are part of their allure, along with their hypnotic, pulsing movements.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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