hyperventilated

past tense of hyperventilate
as in gasped
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty he was so nervous he began hyperventilating, and the extra oxygen made him dizzy

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 hyperventilated Advertisement Not every variety-show booking delighted every viewer (just ask the stiffs who hyperventilated when Elvis wiggled his hips on Sullivan’s stage), but there was enough, most nights, to captivate tens of millions of them. — Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hyperventilated
Verb
  • At the premiere, the audience audibly gasped and cheered, even though Austen’s story is well known to many.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • During the film, audience members both laughed and gasped in horror as the events of OpenAI’s founding and 2023 unraveling were brought to screen.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • As Europe panted through rolling heatwaves this summer, I became drawn in by The Perfect Prescription anew.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hyperventilated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hyperventilated. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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