When someone breathes heavily, they may also be described as panting, gasping, wheezing, huffing, or puffing. Panting can indicate rapid, shallow breaths usually caused by exertion. Gasping refers to short, sharp inhalations, often due to lack of air. Wheezing means to make a whistling sound while breathing caused by a respiratory issue. Huffing or puffing refers to forceful exhalations, often associated with frustration or anger. Some other synonyms for breathing heavily include snorting, croaking, or rasping. Each of these descriptive words can help to paint a vivid picture of someone who is struggling to catch their breath, conveying a sense of tension or urgency in a scene.