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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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
Those pulses can deter or disrupt seizures. Marina Kopf, NBC news, 27 May 2026 As normal energy barriers usually block hopfions from forming, the team used ultra-fast femtosecond laser pulses to shock the spin system out of equilibrium. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026 Salmon evolved in rivers with seasonal pulses of cold water from snowmelt and winter storms. Eric Palkovacs, The Conversation, 26 May 2026 Microchips rely on clock pulses to keep everything in the circuit in sync. ArsTechnica, 22 May 2026 The group is also running a public awareness campaign to urge Americans to eat a half cup of pulses each day. Joe Hernandez, NPR, 18 May 2026 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 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
Verb
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 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
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
  • If Pereira beats Gane and becomes a three-division champion — something no one has done in UFC history — does that crown him the greatest of all time?
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
  • In a fragmented world, clarity beats noise.
    Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Watching Nate slowly meet consequences in beatings from mobsters, while Cassie could barely muster concern, was Levinson succeeding at gallows humor.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 June 2026
  • Police stopped the violence there that night, but more racist beatings and looting erupted downtown.
    USA Today, USA Today, 2 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulses. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on pulses

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster