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
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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
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
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
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
Verb
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This series feels a lot more important than a late-May series should feel.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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The keyboard is large and comfortable, with a few points deducted for HP's insistence on cramped arrow keys, and the touchpad feels good.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
Verb
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By the same token, guests should never touch scareactors, which is what Universal calls HHN actors.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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Woman ‘inappropriately’ touched in search Clark was called to an Oildale home on Feb. 14, 2019 and spoke with a woman who gave a fake last name, prosecutors said.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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An article published that year by The New York Times notes that Davis shaved the front of her head for the part.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
5 June 2025
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To begin, researchers tried to mimic sun exposure by shaving the dorsal skin of mice and applying cis-urocanic acid (dissolved in water).—
Jay Kakade
June 03,
New Atlas,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Sprinkle spice mixture on both sides of ribs, gently patting to coat.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
23 May 2025
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The show lives in these blue-collar pockets of ‘flyover America,’ but doesn’t make a big deal about it or pat itself on the back.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Palpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palpate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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