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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Costs for basic staple foods like rice, salt and pulses have risen by about 22% since the start of the Iran war, according to the WFP. Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026 By delivering low-frequency electrical pulses, the implant stimulates those receptors and influences how the body responds to rising blood pressure. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026 These handheld devices are either electric or battery-powered and spray streams of water between your teeth in regular pulses. Sherri Gordon, Health, 12 May 2026 The connectedness of fashion and art, as well as all of humankind, pulses throughout the show. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 May 2026 Theater District Boston's Theater District pulses with pre and post-show energy along Tremont Street, where historic venues like the Boch Center and the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater draw world-class performers and touring Broadway acts year-round. Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026 Different pulses can be programmed to distinguish between fire alarms, burglar alarms and phone calls. Shirl Leigh may 03, New Atlas, 3 May 2026 The space pulses with Afro-beats and laughter. Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026 It’s powered by harmonic resonance technology, using rhythmic pulses to gently and effectively comb through knots. Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulses
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
  • 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
  • New York quite like this tune (though there is one a little later on the list that beats this puppy in that category).
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
  • Nothing beats a weekend getaway to a small town.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • Each day, they are filled with one-dimensional stories of beatings, stabbing and shootings — all sad accounts of a city in decline.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
  • Trips to detention hearings brought beatings.
    Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Every night the Dallas Stars host playoff games, the area in and around the American Airlines Center vibrates with activity, commerce and life.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Inside, standing 43 inches tall, a silver speaker from Takahiro Miyashita’s brand TheSoloist vibrates high fidelity through the showroom.
    Samantha Lee Connect April 17, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulses. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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