as in panting
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
the runner was audibly gasping by the end of the marathon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of gasping
Fitness influencers gasping through their first seconds of cold immersion.
—
Sara Braun, Kansas City Star, 30 Dec. 2025
An excited Woods, in a white fuzzy coat with a white dress underneath, could be seen gasping in shock before smiling in celebration.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Elusive junior quarterback Ki Ellison was sensational, and his scrambling and ability to throw on the run left Creek’s big defensive linemen gasping for breath in the second half.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
When the audio came back on during the broadcast, the audience could be heard gasping — while cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin raised her hands to her face in shock, and Sunny Hostin pursed her lips.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Reactions from the crowd can be heard in the background — with zoo visitors gasping.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The fears of my imagination, the possibility of losing a child due to one inattentive moment, all combined to leave me gasping for breath.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasping
panting
Verb
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Her dog panting, unquestioning, always thrilled to see her.—
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Gus was awake and panting at his feet.—
Cite this Entry
“Gasping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasping. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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