as in pulses
a rhythmic expanding and contracting
I seemed to feel anew the pain of her death with each throb of my heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in vibrates
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
the car's stereo speakers throbbing with the song's bass line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of throbs
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
While the game is played across the country, its pulse throbs in Rio.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
Portugal’s coastline throbs with beach goers and sports enthusiasts.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
There is expansive Zhong, with 360-degree views of the valley; forbidding Lubra, a tiny riverside hamlet ringed by cliffs; and fortress-like Kagbeni, home to a gompa founded by the 15th-century scholar Tenpai Gyaltsen, which throbs with the sound of the Kali Gandaki.
—Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2024
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
While the game is played across the country, its pulse throbs in Rio.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 28 Dec. 2025
Portugal’s coastline throbs with beach goers and sports enthusiasts.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
There is expansive Zhong, with 360-degree views of the valley; forbidding Lubra, a tiny riverside hamlet ringed by cliffs; and fortress-like Kagbeni, home to a gompa founded by the 15th-century scholar Tenpai Gyaltsen, which throbs with the sound of the Kali Gandaki.
—Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throbs
Noun
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The technology uses electrical pulses to directly treat the heart tissue that causes the irregular heartbeat.—
Tracy Yochum,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Wordless electronic lounge music pulses over the speakers, hanging well above the dining room from a triple-height ceiling.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There's real grit underneath the shag haircut and thigh-high boots, though; see the discotheque scene, where her entire body vibrates with a desperate mix of hope, terror, and determination.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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Taken from a Kamikaze menu Garcia created for Huerta’s birthday, the tom yum aguachile vibrates with heat under a canopy of fresh tortilla chips shaped like half moons.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There will also be a DJ serving beats the entire weekend and an invitation-only afterparty on Saturday and Sunday.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
13 Mar. 2026
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Even if adjustments become necessary later, thoughtful action beats hesitation.—
Fazila Shahid,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Framed by verdant mountains and hills, the best things to do in Taipei make up a city that pulsates with energy; from the lively sizzle of night markets to the scenic hiking trails of Elephant Mountain.—
Kaila Yu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Throbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throbs. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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