as in throbs
a rhythmic expanding and contracting
his resting pulse rate is much lower than that of most men his age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in beats
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
blood vessels pulsing in time with the heartbeat
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 pulses
Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
It’s powered by harmonic resonance technology, using rhythmic pulses to gently and effectively comb through knots.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 30 Apr. 2026
By using multiple pulses in a sequence, chemists can study additional properties of radicals that are difficult to see with continuous-wave EPR, says Sideris, who recently moved to Stanford University.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Fiber-optic cables are made of glass strands that transmit data as pulses of light, which advocates say are many times faster than the more traditional copper cables, which use electrical signals.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
This long-term evolution culminated in the training of an algorithm capable of accurately interpreting and recognizing complex patterns of electrical pulses within the system.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
This protein plays a role in transmitting pulses from cochlear cells within the ear to nearby nerves, which carry the signals on to the brain.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
Here, electronic and muscle-driven pulses are more tightly fused.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026
The technology is built on electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), a technique that sends low-level electrical pulses to specific muscles to trigger movement.
—Omar Kardoudi
april 13, New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Inside the shop, Miwa Tanaka, who’s worked the floor for years, says the flow of foot traffic still pulses with seasonality.
—Jessica Binns, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026
San Antonio often gets labeled as a retirement town, but don’t let that fool you—the city pulses with youth and energy.
—Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
The village pulses with a ton of energy, and the restaurant and après scene are also top-notch.
—Brent Rose, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2026
The city pulses with creativity, from its interactive street art to its world-class museums.
—Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
The city pulses with ambition—as Education City hums with global ideas, and Katara hosts opera under the stars.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The Watson household, once shadowed by loss, now pulses with both memory and possibility.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
His hip-hop bonafides emerge halfway through on his second verse, and his memorable lines add another element to an earworm single that still pulses with energy and soul.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
The space pulses with Afro-beats and laughter.
—Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
It’s powered by harmonic resonance technology, using rhythmic pulses to gently and effectively comb through knots.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 30 Apr. 2026
By using multiple pulses in a sequence, chemists can study additional properties of radicals that are difficult to see with continuous-wave EPR, says Sideris, who recently moved to Stanford University.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Fiber-optic cables are made of glass strands that transmit data as pulses of light, which advocates say are many times faster than the more traditional copper cables, which use electrical signals.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
This long-term evolution culminated in the training of an algorithm capable of accurately interpreting and recognizing complex patterns of electrical pulses within the system.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
This protein plays a role in transmitting pulses from cochlear cells within the ear to nearby nerves, which carry the signals on to the brain.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
Here, electronic and muscle-driven pulses are more tightly fused.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026
The technology is built on electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), a technique that sends low-level electrical pulses to specific muscles to trigger movement.
—Omar Kardoudi
april 13, New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
There’s a small LED indicator on the top of the device that pulses white when the sensor is ready for setup, briefly glows red when motion is detected, and briefly flashes green and blue during a reset.
—John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Inside the shop, Miwa Tanaka, who’s worked the floor for years, says the flow of foot traffic still pulses with seasonality.
—Jessica Binns, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026
San Antonio often gets labeled as a retirement town, but don’t let that fool you—the city pulses with youth and energy.
—Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
The village pulses with a ton of energy, and the restaurant and après scene are also top-notch.
—Brent Rose, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2026
The city pulses with creativity, from its interactive street art to its world-class museums.
—Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
The city pulses with ambition—as Education City hums with global ideas, and Katara hosts opera under the stars.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The Watson household, once shadowed by loss, now pulses with both memory and possibility.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
His hip-hop bonafides emerge halfway through on his second verse, and his memorable lines add another element to an earworm single that still pulses with energy and soul.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulses
Verb
-
My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Slow pulsations near the end of the AGB phase lead to ejecta, but these ejecta are rarely visible directly.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
While the former aids in the reduction of puffiness and dark circles in the under-eye area based on hot and cold contrast therapy, the latter comes with three attachments for relieving muscle pain, tension, and soreness through rapid pulsations.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Robot beats elite human players at table tennis A robot beat elite human players at table tennis, a landmark victory in a competitive sport.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Take, for example, Republican James Fishback, who, according to recent polling from Keystone Analytics, beats Jolly by almost five points in a head-to-head matchup.—
Thomas C. Shank,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The answer doomed him to further beatings—but that was not the point.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Those who ignore or refuse the Mexican Mafia’s rules or orders are often targeted for beatings or even death.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every night the Dallas Stars host playoff games, the area in and around the American Airlines Center vibrates with activity, commerce and life.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Inside, standing 43 inches tall, a silver speaker from Takahiro Miyashita’s brand TheSoloist vibrates high fidelity through the showroom.—
Samantha Lee
Connect
April 17,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulses. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
