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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
  • My knee throbbed from hitting the rocks and the questions filled my head.
    — Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of throb
Verb
  • The Panthers beat Vanderbilt in coach Dell McGee’s third game as coach in 2024, then lost 17 of their next 18 games against FBS opponents.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Two blue and yellow humanoid robots attempted to beat each other up with punches twice as hard as Mike Tyson’s.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 14 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 15 Sep. 2026.

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