as in to gasp
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
he was so nervous he began hyperventilating, and the extra oxygen made him dizzy
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Recent Examples of hyperventilate
Specifically, a 1940s B-picture conjuring up some heavy Maria Montez mojo, known as Kiss of the Spider Woman — a typically hyperventilating melodrama that featured a vamping diva playing several parts, including the venomous title character.
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David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
Dingers are fun, as are late-inning chaos sequences, which could come from New York’s hyperventilating bullpen.
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Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
The hyperactive plotting runs on hyperventilating prose.
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Book Marks
september 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Some may also hyperventilate, which can lead to fainting as well.
—
Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
CNN Money,
26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hyperventilate
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
Dingers are fun, as are late-inning chaos sequences, which could come from New York’s hyperventilating bullpen.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
The hyperactive plotting runs on hyperventilating prose.
—
Book Marks
september 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Some may also hyperventilate, which can lead to fainting as well.
—
Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
CNN Money,
26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hyperventilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hyperventilate
Verb
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Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away.
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And when he was questioned by a police officer about his decision to pronounce the boy dead while the child was still gasping for air, the doctor allegedly pulled rank.
Verb
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Dogs primarily regulate heat through panting and small sweat glands in their paw pads, according to the American Kennel Club.
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Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats.
Cite this Entry
“Hyperventilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hyperventilate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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