as in throbbed
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
his heart pitter-pattered with excitement as he waited for the right moment to propose
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitter-pattered
Verb
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Her hand and arm cramped, her shoulder ached, and her knee throbbed, all while the rain soaked through their clothes.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026 -
The upper blocks throbbed and pulsed a deep blue, reflecting the pond’s windblown currents.—
Jack Korngold,
Rolling Stone,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Behind forceful nights from Nic Claxton, who scored a career-high 28 points, and Noah Clowney, who added 22, and with three rookies taking full advantage of their minutes, the Nets found just enough offense to beat the Chicago Bulls 123-115 at Barclays Center.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The beating heart of space is the custom charcoal grille, which took six months to build just for the new locale.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This Victorian residence was the band’s communal home during the 1960s, when Haight-Ashbury pulsed as the heart of counterculture.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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The Pentagon has since been testing the portable, backpack-sized device, which emits pulsed, radio-frequency energy and contains components of Russian origin.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Group chats vibrated in confusion, anger and disbelief.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
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There was a low rumble that vibrated for a second or two, then faded away.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Pitter-pattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitter-pattered. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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