Breathing with difficulty is a common symptom of many medical conditions, and can be described by the crossword solutions of PANT, WHEEZE, and GASP. Panting is a rapid, shallow breathing pattern, while wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs when air is forced through narrowed airways. Gasping is a sudden, deep inhalation of breath, often accompanied by a sound. All three of these terms describe the act of breathing with difficulty.