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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Technology advances rapidly, industries seem to shift overnight, and people, especially leaders, feel the pressure to keep up.—
Hilary Tetenbaum,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Staying on theme for this season’s location in Thailand, Leisure Projects has an array of cozy garments, like this lace shirt, that feels appropriate without venturing into costume territory.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Molloy said Wednesday that people who find debris in their yards should not touch it.—
Saleen Martin,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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In the footage, which is circulating on social media, a man is seen touching the fish and attempting to put the animal back in the water.—
Jessica Botelho,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In this case, a clever player can easily shave off about half of Nikador's health pool, potentially a lot more.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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Did football culture, which at one time shaved penises into a rookie player’s head as a hazing ritual, need to change?—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Both before and after each use, use warm water and soap to wash it, then pat it dry.—
Amanda Chatel,
Glamour,
19 Feb. 2025
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Type: Liquid Finish: Matte/Radiant Finish How to apply: Apply 1-2 dots on each cheek, then use your fingertips to gently pat the blush into the skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Palpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpate. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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