pads 1 of 3

plural of pad
1
as in notebooks
a number of sheets of writing paper glued together at one edge the waitress keeps a pad in the pocket of her apron to write down orders

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
as in buffers
something that serves as a protective barrier a pad on the chair to keep it from getting scratched

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

pads

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of pad

pads

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of pad

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pads
Noun
Burial is far and away the blueprint here, evident in the vespertine pads, tape hiss, and hauntological vocal flips, deployed as if overheard from a distant astral plane. Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 Traditional amenities, such as cotton pads, are not provided, so pack your own essentials. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026 Pavement, sand, artificial turf and other outdoor surfaces can become hot enough to burn sensitive paw pads. Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 21 July 2026 A lot of those items, as well as hockey pads, are now made in China, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries. Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 20 July 2026 Reduce Waste When Possible An alternative to purchasing disposable pads is to attach a reusable microfiber cloth to the Swiffer head. Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026 Seaver, who died in 2020, left most of his personal mementos to the Hall of Fame, including balls and jerseys from his most famous victories, knee pads that protected him from raspberries in his famous drop-and-drive delivery. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 Meanwhile, programmable desktop controllers such as Stream Decks, macro pads and even dedicated AI buttons quietly started appearing. New Atlas, 18 July 2026 The outlines of the pads of those mighty feet told of a body far larger than that of any black that the Jemez supports. Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026
Verb
In other words, the additional money that our companies are shelling out to cover higher memory costs ultimately pads these three companies’ bottom lines. Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 21 June 2026 Adding the killer’s voice just pads an already too-long book. Maren Longbella, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 Not to say there aren’t some clunkers, most notably a jokey take-me-out-to-the-ballgame baseball number that pads the second act, but the Flaherty-Ahrens score was and is Ragtime‘s signature achievement. Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025 The exchange is indicative of this odd, frustrating, occasionally intriguing project, which pads out scarce but real nuggets of insight with leading questions and endless clips. Alison Herman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025 Stanfield is the second new face named this month, after French actor Paul Kircher, as Anderson pads out the ranks of his men’s ambassadors following a rash of appointments on the women’s side. Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pads
Noun
  • The best smart notebooks This smart notebook fits in a pocket, has 48 reusable pages and comes with the Pilot Frixion pen required for note-taking.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Lunch boxes, markers, notebooks and notebook filler paper.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Bathrooms, complete with rainfall showers, are lined with Bellino Turkish cotton bath towels and Salt and Stone products; beds are made up in Cuddledown linens; and Whirlpool washers and dryers are in every unit.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 2026
  • Kidd likened resisting regulation of riding in truck beds to defying seat belt and motorcycle helmet laws.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • The economy has been remarkably resilient, but the buffers that protected Americans from earlier price spikes are wearing thin.
    Matt Peterson, CNBC, 22 July 2026
  • Portions of the road through unincorporated Lemon HIll, South Oak Park and North and South City Farms have four traffic lanes, a central turn lane and bike lanes without buffers separating bicyclists from traffic.
    Madison Smalstig July 16, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Some of the most pressing needs include replacing roofs and HVAC systems.
    Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
  • Two separate three-bed guest houses, one with its own pool, offer privacy within privacy, while the commanding 1,300-square-meter (13,993 square feet) six-bed main house spreads the double wings of its terracotta roofs in sheltering fashion.
    Donna Hardie-Scott, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • That history still colors how the company talks, less like a supplement label and more like a couple of people who have been through it.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • This four-part series was made by people who love Burning Man, which definitely colors the doc — but at least the first episode shows the place off pretty well.
    David Pierce, The Verge, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • Consider paintings like Caracalla, where the titular emperor treads a trail of rose petals; or In a Rose Garden, where a woman shakes the petals of a rose bush down on her companion; and the extravaganza of The Roses of Heliogabalus.
    Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2026
  • This stone stays cool even in direct sunlight, with varied blues complementing the historic stonework and bluestone stair treads.
    Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Compatible devices for cloud gaming include Xbox consoles (Xbox One and newer), supported TVs (newer Samsungs/LGs), VR headsets, Windows PCs, tablets and mobile devices.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026
  • Confirmation of every device regularly used to access your account, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
    Andy Mitten, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Renowned interior designer Martin Brudnizki’s maximalist design aesthetic includes playful glass chandeliers, floral wallpaper, and decadent velvet couches.
    Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026
  • Too Many Pillows Pillows add comfort and style to couches, chairs, and beds, but an excess can overwhelm seating areas.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pads. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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