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

Relevance

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 Broad palpitated with energy. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025 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 Representing heart-palpitating romance is the main storyline: the passion of Megha’s son Naveen (Carol Mazhuvancheril) for his boyfriend, Keshav (Noah Israel), a fellow Hindu who happens to be Caucasian. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2023 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 The past three seasons, their games were marked by palpitating comebacks. New York Times, 23 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palpitate
Verb
  • My calves and thighs often throbbed, my waist ached and my knees swelled.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • The piece has to throb and, well, that is not the first verb that comes to mind in director Jonathan Butterell’s production, with all due respect for the sincerity of the effort and the intermittent effectiveness of the storytelling.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • The score was still 3-1 after 20 minutes, but Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb beat Bussi with a shot from the circles that crossed the goal line a fraction of a second after the clock hit zero.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
  • The Carolina Hurricanes have evened up the Stanley Cup Final once more thanks to Jordan Staal’s two-goal night in Las Vegas to beat the Golden Knights in Game 4, 5-3.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • With every pluck, the strings seem to vibrate in the air in front of you, blurring like bees’ wings.
    Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026
  • Gateway Center Arena was vibrating on a cosmic level last night as the Atlanta Dream beat the Connecticut Sun.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Sculptor Alan Saret, whose nebulous, three-dimensional wire works seemed to pulse with life, died on May 26 in Brooklyn.
    News Desk, Artforum, 3 June 2026
  • In between, Tribeca will pulse with documentaries on Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, guitarist Peter Frampton, Israeli singer Noga Erez, rap trio The Lox, drummer Travis Barker, and concert docs with Katy Perry and Mumford & Sons.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Palpitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpitate. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on palpitate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster