RESPIRING Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

respiring

verb

present participle of respire

as in breathing

to inhale and exhale air though unconscious, the patient is still respiring

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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 respiring When the soil becomes saturated from overwatering, the pores fill with water, limiting oxygen and preventing the roots from respiring. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 12 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for respiring

breathing

Verb

In February 2025, more than a year before her death, Aurora was taken to an emergency room by a relative after experiencing asthma symptoms, wheezing and difficulty breathing, according to prosecutors.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
But Sprenger is like Victor Frankenstein, his electronic voice and its warped utterances breathing an uneasiness into everything around it.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of breathing

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respires

respiring

respite

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“Respiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respiring. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of respiring

verb

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