as in favorite
a person or thing that is preferred over others
the teacher's pet was always getting special privileges
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pouts
a state of resentful silence or irritability
the teenager stalked off in a pet after being refused permission to go the movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention
spent my free time on my pet project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to pat
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
a cat who loves to be petted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pet
Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 14 Feb. 2026
Use area rugs in high-traffic areas like entryways or in spaces where kids and pets play to prevent scratches.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
The Pets Table is an online subscription service that provides customers with premium pet food delivered directly to their door.
—Trisha Easto, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
The character was previously only seen from behind or in close-ups of his hands petting his sinister white kitty.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pet
Noun
The website has other pets in need of homes, too.
—Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 14 Feb. 2026
Use area rugs in high-traffic areas like entryways or in spaces where kids and pets play to prevent scratches.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
What happens in the movie is a fantasy, wish-fulfillment revenge on Max (Bronstein eventually took the real hamster back to the pet shop).
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
The Pets Table is an online subscription service that provides customers with premium pet food delivered directly to their door.
—Trisha Easto, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
At peace with life at home spent petting Lala and cuddling with his husband.
—Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
The character was previously only seen from behind or in close-ups of his hands petting his sinister white kitty.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pet
Adjective
-
Now, the source material behind that beloved series is making the leap to live theater.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But in order to make good on the movie-ness of it all, Johnson and McCarrol leaped and ran and dived into the sky, all for the sake of booking a concert at the beloved Toronto venue Rivoli.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
During the performance, the singer kneels down to hand Fox the award and pats his head before continuing on.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
American associates Experts caution that Britain shouldn’t be too quick to pat itself on the back over its rapid reckoning with Mandelson.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This Valentine’s Day, Ben Smith and Kelly Dennis will profess their love for each other — and New York City — in front of loved ones, strangers and possibly Batman.—
Andrea Sachs,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Gavern said the online ICE detainee locator, which family members use to find loved ones, often doesn’t update when transfers occur.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His long arm of hate is reaching out to Hispanic Americans and to our cherished monuments.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Whether antiques, cherished knickknacks, or heirlooms, items that are very delicate and/or precious to the customer are typically items house cleaners won’t want to mess with in order to cut down the risk of damaging them.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The actor followed her around at several events related to the wedding, eventually caressing the back of her arm and pressing his knee against hers under the table.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Fan favorite and three-time World Series champion, Kiké Hernandez became a free agent after last season and has not signed a new contract.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Borrowing elements from Adidas’ fan-favorite Gazelle style, this version ups the comfort level with a layered gumsole for double the shock absorption.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Willcox Southern hospitality extends to your precious animals at The Willcox.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The campaign nods to archival Loro Piana communication from the 1990s and to campaigns dedicated to the precious dark Merino Pecora Nera wool, to its signature White Sole shoe, and to the Loro Piana Record Bale Award.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pet. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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