pulses 1 of 2

plural of pulse
as in throbs
a rhythmic expanding and contracting his resting pulse rate is much lower than that of most men his age

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pulses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pulse
as in beats
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner blood vessels pulsing in time with the heartbeat

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pulses
Noun
There were two big pulses of seismic activity within 39 seconds of each other on June 24, 2026, both over magnitude 7. Sylvain Barbot, The Conversation, 26 June 2026 One released a chaff cascade—hell’s own monsoon manifesting as specks of light, sound, and EM pulses falling through the hanging garden. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026 According to Esh-Tech, once a drone is struck, additional pulses are delivered until the aircraft is disabled. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026 These startups are working with a range of different non-invasive sensor modalities, including those that measure electrical pulses (EEG), those that measure magnetic fields (MEG), and those that use light to measure changes in blood flow (fNIRS). Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026 The pulses are designed to normalize the nerve messaging from the brain to the stomach to relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting without side effects. ABC News, 22 June 2026 Catastrophe looms in Terrestrials' near-menacing tone, full of ominous synth pulses and creeping grooves. Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 During a phase of sleep called slow-wave, the brain’s vascular system pulses rhythmically, literally pumping cerebrospinal fluid through its innards and washing them clean. Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Verb
Each second, the light pulses a few hundred billion times through a fiberglass straw the width of a human hair. ABC News, 16 June 2026 While the complications of the relationship between Merril and Raquel are not always terribly clear in the script, both Marquis and Adame find strong chemistry as the story pulses forward. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 Though rooted in the past, the film pulses with an urgency that feels entirely present. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 May 2026 There’s a small LED indicator on the top of the device that pulses white when the sensor is ready for setup, briefly glows red when motion is detected, and briefly flashes green and blue during a reset. John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026 Inside the shop, Miwa Tanaka, who’s worked the floor for years, says the flow of foot traffic still pulses with seasonality. Jessica Binns, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026 San Antonio often gets labeled as a retirement town, but don’t let that fool you—the city pulses with youth and energy. Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026 The village pulses with a ton of energy, and the restaurant and après scene are also top-notch. Brent Rose, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2026 The city pulses with creativity, from its interactive street art to its world-class museums. Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulses
Noun
  • Slow pulsations near the end of the AGB phase lead to ejecta, but these ejecta are rarely visible directly.
    Big Think, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
  • While the former aids in the reduction of puffiness and dark circles in the under-eye area based on hot and cold contrast therapy, the latter comes with three attachments for relieving muscle pain, tension, and soreness through rapid pulsations.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.
    Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.
    Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • According to prosecutors, who cited testimony and evidence at McCue's trial, the children allegedly suffered severe beatings and were forced to wear shock collars and stand naked on cinder blocks for hours or sometimes days at a time.
    Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
  • Others targeted with beatings and forms of public shaming — including children — were accused of theft, drug trafficking or illegally selling tobacco.
    Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • The race is won by the team that beats their handicap speed by the greatest margin.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
  • The infant’s heart beats into the night, like the thumping of a little giant, breaking rocks deep in the Mines of Moria.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Nevertheless, Bonnie’s doting parents hope that Lilypad will help Bonnie make friends, oblivious to how the gizmo — and soon, their daughter — vibrates with anxiety.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
  • The household hums with collective energy and vibrates with handiwork, intention, love.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulses. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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