throbbing

[ throb-ing ]

adjective

1. beating or pulsing rapidly or forcefully, as the heart under the influence of emotion or excitement:

   One may use a sweet, patient tone and words, but the throbbing vein in the temple betrays one’s anger.

2. feeling or exhibiting strong emotion or passion:

   As he spoke to the students crashing the climate convention, he was clearly thrilled to be there in that throbbing mass of youthful exuberance.

3. pulsating or vibrating regularly:

   The throbbing sound was now at full volume, and it was indeed drums—deep, heavy goatskin drums.

4. being or feeling pain that occurs in rhythmic waves or bursts:

   A sinus infection often results in a throbbing headache.

   He pounded on the closed door, but with no effect apart from a throbbing fist.

5. full of or characterized by lively energy:

   This throbbing metropolis is also the world capital of salsa.

noun

1. the act of beating fast or forcefully, pulsating or vibrating, or occurring in rhythmic waves:

   The pain in his shoulder had subsided to a dull throbbing.

   Astronomers have measured the throbbing of a sun-like star 24 light-years away.

2. the act or fact of feeling or exhibiting strong emotion or passion:

   The throbbing of my rage was so powerful that the ground trembled.

3. lively energy:

   Feel the throbbing of the world’s cultures at the annual international festival this weekend!

Other Words From

• throb·bing·ly adverb
• un·throb·bing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of throbbing¹

First recorded in 1400–50; throb ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; throb ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

In my teens, fear of getting questioned about my living arrangements had stopped me going to the hospital after my boyfriend’s fist had left my ear throbbing for days.

From Slate

That sunny day, as Babb walked into the café, the rainy season had subsided and the earth was throbbing with the possibility of new crops and jobs for the workers.

From Salon

Among the instructor’s object lessons: Katy Perry’s 2013 single “Unconditionally,” in which Perry puts the emphasis on that word’s fourth syllable — “un-con-di-tion-al-ly” — in order to ride the song’s throbbing groove.

From Los Angeles Times

Aside from the usual blisters, limps and throbbing limbs, most runners escape relatively unscathed.

From BBC

“It’s like a toothache many people describe and so it’s kind of throbbing,” Von Hoff said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agonizing
• arduous
• awful
• difficult
• dire
• distasteful
• distressing
• excruciating
• hard
• harrowing
• heart-wrenching
• hurtful
• severe
• tedious
• terrible
• troublesome
• uncomfortable
• unpleasant