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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The light bled red at Sixty-Seventh and Pacific, music throbbing through the speakers as Olivia Borsutzki relaxed her foot from the brake.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026 -
And yet, as dynasties could emerge across a number of divisions in boys hockey this postseason, none should diminish what will be yet another heart-throbbing three weeks.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gonzales was struggling to hold his 23rd District even before the scandal, barely beating 2nd Amendment activist and content creator Brandon Herrera in 2024; Herrera is running again, along with Quico Canseco, a one-term congressman who’s made multiple comeback attempts.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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The Lakers’ 41-year-old star buried three 3-pointers in the second half, the first one beating the third-quarter buzzer for a 96-76 lead.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Which vibrating skin brushes are best?—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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Navigate the locker room with your vibrating children.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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All that to say, design is the hotel’s heart, pulsing a refined yet approachable vibe throughout its very posh body.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
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Musical cues swing wildly from choral eeriness to dead silence to pulsing synths without any discernible logic, frequently robbing scenes of rhythm and dread.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Pitter-pattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitter-pattering. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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