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
-
This fusion approach relies on powerful laser pulses to compress and ignite fusion fuel.
-
Catastrophe looms in Terrestrials' near-menacing tone, full of ominous synth pulses and creeping grooves.
Verb
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Nevertheless, Bonnie’s doting parents hope that Lilypad will help Bonnie make friends, oblivious to how the gizmo — and soon, their daughter — vibrates with anxiety.
-
The household hums with collective energy and vibrates with handiwork, intention, love.
Verb
-
The race is won by the team that beats their handicap speed by the greatest margin.
-
The infant’s heart beats into the night, like the thumping of a little giant, breaking rocks deep in the Mines of Moria.
Verb
-
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.
Cite this Entry
“Throbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throbs. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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