Definition of palpitatenext
as in to throb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the man's heart began to palpitate, and he feared another attack was coming on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 palpitate But two sweaty and heart-palpitating afternoons at Foley Field spoke a truth about Georgia, bound for the College World Series for the first time since 2008. Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 8 June 2026 The finale had the impossible task of putting the monstrous show to an unquiet grave, and while some storylines seemed rushed and others completely ignored, even everyone’s least favorite season of GOT is heart palpitating. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025 The matte, phosphorescent sigils painted onto his robe appeared to palpitate in the low light. Kent Russell, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 In one of the raciest vignettes, a man buys and eats fresh dumplings on a train, intermittently palpitating his sore gums with his fingers. Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 8 May 2020 Angelica Hernández's heart hasn't stopped palpitating for a week. Author: Arelis R. Hernández, Cristina Corujo, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Jan. 2020 Angelica Hernández’s heart hasn’t stopped palpitating for a week. Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2020 The past three seasons, their games were marked by palpitating comebacks. New York Times, 23 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palpitate
Verb
  • The first is pique, a sharp, vinegary hot sauce that throbs with the heat of Thai chiles.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • There have been plenty of times when my feet throbbed after hours of sightseeing.
    Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat on low speed until just combined.
    Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 26 July 2026
  • Some may point to the fact that the man who beat Pogacar in 2022 and 2023, Danish racer Jonas Vingegaard, broke his collarbone in a crash in stage 15, which helped clear the way for the Slovenian to be first in Paris this year.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 26 July 2026
Verb
  • The mouth fiddle belongs to a family of instruments that are orally modulated, lending qualities of the human voice to the sound waves emitted by a vibrating string.
    Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • So make sure to put your phone on silent or vibrate or turn it off.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Some researchers have experimented with bionic noses and implants that pulse electrical signals into the olfactory system to try and restore smell.
    Hannah Docter-Loeb, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
  • And the pulsing strip that is Ocean Drive is a short stroll away for quick dips in the ocean, classic Art Deco façades, and buzzy nightlife.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Palpitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpitate. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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