Anhelation, the act of desperate gasping for air, can invoke images of distress and panic. It is a term that is not widely used in everyday language but has several synonyms that can convey the same or similar meanings. Some synonyms for anhelation include breathlessness, panting, gasping, wheezing, suffocation, and struggle for air. These words can be used interchangeably, depending on the context. They can be used to describe a person experiencing physical exertion, respiratory illness, or anxiety or can connote the pain and suffering of a fish out of the water or a mammal caught in a trap.