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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Recent Examples of palpate
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
Determined faces, arms and hands plunged into a heap of apricots, one euro per kilo, palpating and rejecting them, stuffing them in bags, in a joyous frenzy of gathering.
—Annie Ernaux, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2023
Teachers and students forget that the ability to palpate is not the same as the ability to feel.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2016
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
Determined faces, arms and hands plunged into a heap of apricots, one euro per kilo, palpating and rejecting them, stuffing them in bags, in a joyous frenzy of gathering.
—Annie Ernaux, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2023
Teachers and students forget that the ability to palpate is not the same as the ability to feel.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palpate
Verb
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The plan is to go clubbing, and right away things start to feel dodgy.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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The second goal solidified it for anyone who didn’t yet feel the tide shifting.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Target – whose RSI is 16.8 – lost about 9% this week, touching a 52-week low on Friday and bringing its year-to-date decline to nearly 23%.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2025
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The guest room design is sleek, modern, and heavily influenced by Galán's original work, blending art deco touches with Andaz's signature pink embellishments.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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If needed, lightly holding your skin taut should be enough to shave the area without excessively stretching or pulling at it.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
14 Mar. 2025
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One hirsute San Francisco regular, Richard, kept changing his hair and shaving his face over the course of the shoot.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Eight days ago, at the very moment when Trump was patting French President Emmanuel Macron on the back at the White House, the United States voted at the United Nations with Russia and North Korea against the Europeans demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops.—
Claude Malhuret,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
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Key ingredients: Dimethicone, sunflower seed oil, gardenia florida fruit extract, sacred lotus flower extract, Nymphaea odorata root extract Finish: Matte/Radiant Shades: 13 How to apply: Apply one dot on each cheek and use your fingertips to gently pat the blush into the skin.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Palpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpate. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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