as in throbbing
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-pattering
Verb
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That’s why my leg is throbbing.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026 -
The book club regularly meets to discuss romance novels in all their sticky, sweaty, throbbing passions.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Point Loma Nazarene’s women’s basketball team improved to 14-4 and climbed back on top of the PacWest Conference standings with a 10-2 mark after beating Azusa Pacific (80-55) and contender Vanguard (59-57) last week.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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In the final, Black & Alshon threw down the gauntlet, beating the top pair in three straight for gold.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The effect is similar to a washing machine vibrating when wet clothes collect on one side of the drum.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
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While the glasses read the scene, a wristband helps the wearer see whether someone looks happy, confused, or upset by vibrating in unique patterns.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Pitter-pattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitter-pattering. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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