as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
on the issue of raising taxes the governor stands pat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in perfectly
without any flaws or errors
after months of practicing for the competition, the cheerleaders have their moves down pat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to caress
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
affectionately patted the baby on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pat
Noah Berlatsky, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2022
There’s a 1785 pastel portrait by Irish artist Hugh Douglas Hamilton, depicting the English bon-vivant ex-pat, George Clavering Cowper, the 3rd Earl Cowper, who spent his adulthood in Italy as a patron of science and the arts.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 12 Jan. 2023
Multiple Authors, House Beautiful, 1 May 2010
Using a slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to a bowl of ice water to cool; pat dry.
—Bon Appetit, 14 May 2018
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
With a beaming smile, Turner patted his chest with pride and looked out at the crowd.
—Shakeia Taylor, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pat
Adjective
The balance changes from story to story, and sometimes the genre conventions feel too pat, as genre conventions will.
—Noah Berlatsky, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2022
There’s a 1785 pastel portrait by Irish artist Hugh Douglas Hamilton, depicting the English bon-vivant ex-pat, George Clavering Cowper, the 3rd Earl Cowper, who spent his adulthood in Italy as a patron of science and the arts.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 12 Jan. 2023
Adverb
When the grill is nice and hot, pat dry the scallops with a paper towel.
—Multiple Authors, House Beautiful, 1 May 2010
Using a slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to a bowl of ice water to cool; pat dry.
—Bon Appetit, 14 May 2018
Verb
Test Kitchen Tip: When preparing meats sous vide, for optimal browning and texture, pat the sous vide protein dry with paper towels.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
With a beaming smile, Turner patted his chest with pride and looked out at the crowd.
—Shakeia Taylor, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pat
Adjective
-
One of the people that is most stubborn in their support of these spendy projects is Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana.—
Roger Valdez,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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For indoor brick, keep it simple by trying a slightly damp brush to sweep away stubborn dirt.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
Adverb
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The perfectly baked eggplant in the borani badajan vege plate was surprisingly not mushy but rather tender.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
July 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 July 2025
-
The plan was perfectly curated to make the transition as smooth, drama-free, and advantageous as possible, Jorge says.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
The pair hit the red carpet for the annual NFL Honors events in Phoenix in 2023 and in New Orleans in 2025, with Arik proudly caressing Mindy’s pregnant belly at the latter.—
Emily Krauser,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The post included a black-and-white clip of Kelly caressing the newborn's hand.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
President Donald Trump has been adamant his tariffs will bring factory jobs back to American shores.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
-
Among the holdouts are members of the SALT Caucus, who have been adamant that any deal from the Senate that does not match the one that passed the House is dead on arrival.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Facing two strikes, Ramírez stroked a single off reliever Jared Koenig into left field, bringing home two runs.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
6 July 2025
-
In central Gaza, a boy stroked the face of his dead sister, 6-year-old Heba Abu Etiwi, in a morgue at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
But Rosary’s goals and its place in the community have remained steadfast, school leadership says.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
-
Accessibility and Sustainability Environmental care is one of Bitter End’s most steadfast values.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
6 July 2025
Adverb
-
Her finely plucked, angled eyebrows, a burgeoning brow theme these days, harked back to the beauty aesthetics of the late ’80s and early ’90s, as did her bold red lip and shimmery purple shadow.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
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Meze claims the new headphones are finely balanced between musicality and refinement, offering a smooth blend of clarity and richness.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
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These Good Standard straight-leg jeans fit just loose enough for plenty of comfort without feeling too baggy and feature a contoured design to hug your waist with a relaxed fit on the lower half.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
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Michael Owen Baker/AP Photo Arturo Rangel hugs Judith Ramos whose father works at the greenhouse in the background as federal immigration agents block access during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.—
Amanda Castro
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pat. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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