pulses 1 of 2

Definition of pulsesnext
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
To record information, a laser zaps data into precise depths of the glass using a series of energy pulses that each last for about one quadrillionth of a second. Damien Pine, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026 Specifically, the weapon was described as a device capable of emitting powerful pulses of microwave energy. Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 18 Feb. 2026 Femtosecond laser pulses can write data into glass in the form of tiny 3D voxels. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026 Sweat dripped, pulses pounded, and for a fleeting few hours, nothing beyond the walls of (SUB)MERCER seemed to matter, offering a rare escape no one seemed ready to let go of. Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026 This is because the magnets pass the sensor more frequently, the pulses come faster, and are more evenly spaced. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Feb. 2026 Even the ’10 team’s stunning run to 90 wins didn’t quicken many pulses. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2026 These features cannot be made by a single star that pulses and ejects material periodically; that would simply lead to a smooth distribution of matter. Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026 The score hums and pulses with modern unease, making the film feel like a fever dream that happens to borrow Brontë’s names. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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 The city pulses with ambition—as Education City hums with global ideas, and Katara hosts opera under the stars. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 The Watson household, once shadowed by loss, now pulses with both memory and possibility. Ashley Vega, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025 His hip-hop bonafides emerge halfway through on his second verse, and his memorable lines add another element to an earworm single that still pulses with energy and soul. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2025 The larger stretch of South Broadway counts a lot of vital music venues — HQ (formerly 3 Kings Tavern), the Skylark, the Roxy Broadway, Gothic Theatre, Swallow Hill Music and more — but the corner of South Broadway and Ellsworth still pulses with an energy that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. The Know, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025 That culture still pulses through basements and backrooms across the boroughs. Amy Harclerode, New York Daily News, 8 Aug. 2025 Game day weekends in Charlotte are electric; the city pulses to the beat of the Panthers fans’ energy. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulses
Verb
  • Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.
    Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026
  • While the game is played across the country, its pulse throbs in Rio.
    Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
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
  • For context, a McLaren 765LT supercar only beats that by two feet, and that has a freaking air brake.
    Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Banking beats defense One of the major drivers of optimism in Europe last year was the defense bull run sparked by commitments from leaders , along with the NATO military alliance , to ramp up spending on security.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • We are threatened with beatings and gunfire.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Colmenarez told the Herald that he was contacted that fall by the FBI, which wanted to talk with him about Quero Silva and the beatings at the national guard headquarters in Barquisimeto.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • My music vibrates strings in there that never moved before.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • My car vibrates at 50 miles per hour and higher.
    John Paul, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulses. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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