as in throbbing
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
blood vessels pulsing in time with the heartbeat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 pulsing
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
The right work can make a subject that’s never crossed my mind, or that strikes me as aggressively boring, into something incantatory, pulsing with meaning.
—Deb Olin Unferth, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Accidental melodies fade in and out of earshot; pulsing chords rise up from below and are swallowed back into the murk, only to be replaced by other pulses running at different tempi, giving the impression of wheels within wheels within wheels.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 21 Feb. 2026
Olive Nwosu's debut feature radiates a restless, pulsing energy — both through the thrum of Lagos and the courage of its women.
—Teresa Xie, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
Many of his voters are young and, like Japanese botanists who intentionally stunt growing trees, are devoid of the knowledge required to comprehend a pulsing metropolis.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the sheer curtains came alive with layered projections — solar flares, pulsing wavelengths, images of Reznor casting ghostly echoes of himself across the gauze in duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
Simone made art like her purpose was pulsing through her, coursing through her veins and embedded in her bloodstream.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 9 Feb. 2026
The area, once home to a vibrant Black community known as Freedman’s Town, is now a mix of residential and commercial high-rise towers, pulsing nightlife and pricey townhomes.
—Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
The right work can make a subject that’s never crossed my mind, or that strikes me as aggressively boring, into something incantatory, pulsing with meaning.
—Deb Olin Unferth, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Accidental melodies fade in and out of earshot; pulsing chords rise up from below and are swallowed back into the murk, only to be replaced by other pulses running at different tempi, giving the impression of wheels within wheels within wheels.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 21 Feb. 2026
Olive Nwosu's debut feature radiates a restless, pulsing energy — both through the thrum of Lagos and the courage of its women.
—Teresa Xie, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
Many of his voters are young and, like Japanese botanists who intentionally stunt growing trees, are devoid of the knowledge required to comprehend a pulsing metropolis.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the sheer curtains came alive with layered projections — solar flares, pulsing wavelengths, images of Reznor casting ghostly echoes of himself across the gauze in duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
Simone made art like her purpose was pulsing through her, coursing through her veins and embedded in her bloodstream.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 9 Feb. 2026
The area, once home to a vibrant Black community known as Freedman’s Town, is now a mix of residential and commercial high-rise towers, pulsing nightlife and pricey townhomes.
—Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulsing
Verb
-
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
-
Winning by rallying the naïve and clueless is one thing, but administering a throbbing behemoth is a greater challenge.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Which vibrating skin brushes are best?—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Navigate the locker room with your vibrating children.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As Torquay’s women’s team were beating Gloucester on Sunday, commenters left sarcastic replies under the club’s social media updates.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Bane ballin’ Bane capped off a seven-point first quarter by beating the buzzer with a step-back 3-pointer.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulsing. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
