palpate

verb

Definition of palpatenext
as in to feel
medical to examine (part of the body) by touching it The doctor palpated his ribs to see if there was any tenderness.

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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 palpate Labor in healthcare includes taking down medical histories, making diagnoses, lifting patients, removing lumps, palpating livers, writing notes, processing claims and comforting patients. — Kevin Vigilante, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Expect a thorough exam, during which the provider will palpate (touch) the bicep, check for swelling or tenderness, and assess your range of motion and strength. — Sarah Jividen, Health, 11 Oct. 2024 At your prenatal visits, your doctor or midwife will check your baby's position by palpating or feeling your belly to find the baby’s head, back, and bottom. — Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 25 July 2024 The lead veterinarian, Cristina Buitrago, knelt and palpated the hippo’s abdomen to feel for his testicles, located in the inguinal canal. — Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024 Providers may need to use special techniques during manual cancer exams in people with obesity, like when palpating larger breasts or performing a rectal exam. — Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2024 Kuang’s narrative palpates the nuances of cultural performance and writerly ethics, finally concluding that all authors steal for material anyway. — Zoe Hu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023 Interpreting Results To determine whether dry needling is an effective treatment for you, your healthcare provider or therapist will palpate your trigger points and ask you about your level of pain, movement, and stiffness following your session. — Brittany Ferri, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palpate
  1. feel
  2. touch
  3. shave
  4. pat
Verb
  • Still, there’s something about going back to basics at the dawn of a new season that feels especially right.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Bengals cut the roster down to 53 players on Sunday and there weren’t many surprises in a year where continuity and depth made only a few spots truly feel open to unseating the placeholder.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of feel
Verb
  • Officials say no human contact with the bat is known but urge anyone touched by a bat near Curry Village around May 18 to seek immediate medical advice, noting rabies is fatal yet preventable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Once parts are cut, technicians will use non-destructive sensors to inspect their internal density and geometry without touching the sensitive surfaces.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • One of Goldman’s models suggests that Korea’s fast aging population could shave as much as 25 basis points from annual consumption growth over the next decade.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Luckily, Atlanta is home to a wider world of frozen desserts, from Indonesian shaved ice to Mexican popsicles.
    — Lia Picard - For the AJC, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • Edwards stood silently -- remaining in the well until Johnson left the rostrum, approached Edwards from behind and patted him on the back -- leading him up the aisle to the back of the chamber.
    — John Parkinson, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and pat them dry (the key to getting them crispy).
    — Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of pat

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palpate
palpated
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Cite this Entry

“Palpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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