palpitate

verb

ˈpal-pə-ˌtāt How to pronounce palpitate (audio)
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 The heart-palpitating rhythms and glitchy stutters suggest some unholy mix of early Plastikman and Mark Fell, the vestiges of ’90s dance music reanimated into a herky-jerky Frankenstein’s monster. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 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
  1. throb
  2. beat
  3. vibrate
  4. pulse
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
Definition of throb
Verb
  • Chad Gable won his first singles title in WWE after beating Penta for the WWE Intercontinental Championship in an emotional match.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Evander scored a go-ahead goal from distance in the 82nd minute and Cincinnati beat the San Jose Earthquakes 4-2 on Saturday night in a game delayed over two hours due to weather.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of beat
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
Definition of vibrate
Verb
  • Wearables use temperature sensors, accelerometers, light sensors and photoplethysmography (PPG), which pulses light through the skin to measure blood flow, heart rate and approximate blood oxygen.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • Stacked atop one another, the modules make up what’s called Central the Solenoid — described as the largest and most powerful pulsed superconducting magnet in the world.
    — Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026
Definition of pulse

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palpitate
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Cite this Entry

“Palpitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpitate. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on palpitate

Nglish: Translation of palpitate for Spanish Speakers

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