as in faces
the front part of the head
hey, I could do without seeing your ugly pan for a few days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in criticizes
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
virtually all the movie critics have panned this latest sequel in a tired series
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pans
Brian Bennett, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Pots, pans, trays, and lots of utensils can be shoved onto oven shelves to free up counter and kitchen table space.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
Some splatter screens can fit many sizes of pots and pans, while others come in packs of different sizes.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Because of their weight, cast-iron pans have the potential to be a weapon.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
Beautiful glasses are filled with Salina’s fruity whites, and bijoux copper pans with creamy mashed potatoes and sea urchins.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Pots and Pans Typically the pots and pans in the kitchenware aisles are classic silver metal, but sometimes there are cute sets to grab as well.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Clean pans were stored on an unapproved dirty drainage board.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
In the Chilean capital of Santiago, people waved Venezuelan flags and banging pots and pans as vehicles passed by honking at them.
—Regina Cano Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
The video, which pans across the family's Waco, Texas, farmhouse, shows more than just the spread of flower arrangements the designer is preparing.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
But Steve returns the uniform to its drawer, an apt metaphor to putting away his hero-ing duties, and picks up a bouncing new baby as the camera pans around to reveal Evans' face.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The camera pans over to the iPad screen, confirming Pinkerman’s son is using the AI app.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
As citizens are forced to evacuate the fictional city of Metropolis, the camera slowly pans to an elderly woman carrying her pet turtles.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Nov. 2025
Video issued by the intelligence service shows an unidentified person holding a remote control, then pans to reveal a silver car on a road before the car explodes in a burst of flames.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Deep in thought, the camera pans up to Hart's son Ryan, played by Michael Provost, trotting over to him on horseback.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
Not to be outdone, a 1961 Dutch version has its Elizabeth arrive in mud up to her waist, then shamelessly pans her body in a close-up, from ankles to bosom.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
When news of Maduro’s removal first spread on social media early that Saturday morning, many banged pots and pans in celebration.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Pots, pans, trays, and lots of utensils can be shoved onto oven shelves to free up counter and kitchen table space.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
Some splatter screens can fit many sizes of pots and pans, while others come in packs of different sizes.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Because of their weight, cast-iron pans have the potential to be a weapon.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
Beautiful glasses are filled with Salina’s fruity whites, and bijoux copper pans with creamy mashed potatoes and sea urchins.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Pots and Pans Typically the pots and pans in the kitchenware aisles are classic silver metal, but sometimes there are cute sets to grab as well.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Clean pans were stored on an unapproved dirty drainage board.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
In the Chilean capital of Santiago, people waved Venezuelan flags and banging pots and pans as vehicles passed by honking at them.
—Regina Cano Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
But when the camera pans to the audience, almost everyone is sitting with their hands poised in their laps, similar to how Henry/Vecna sat in his human form.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
The video, which pans across the family's Waco, Texas, farmhouse, shows more than just the spread of flower arrangements the designer is preparing.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
But Steve returns the uniform to its drawer, an apt metaphor to putting away his hero-ing duties, and picks up a bouncing new baby as the camera pans around to reveal Evans' face.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The camera pans over to the iPad screen, confirming Pinkerman’s son is using the AI app.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
As citizens are forced to evacuate the fictional city of Metropolis, the camera slowly pans to an elderly woman carrying her pet turtles.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Nov. 2025
Video issued by the intelligence service shows an unidentified person holding a remote control, then pans to reveal a silver car on a road before the car explodes in a burst of flames.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Deep in thought, the camera pans up to Hart's son Ryan, played by Michael Provost, trotting over to him on horseback.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Oct. 2025
Not to be outdone, a 1961 Dutch version has its Elizabeth arrive in mud up to her waist, then shamelessly pans her body in a close-up, from ankles to bosom.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pans
Noun
-
After the play, Sirianni and Brown were seen on the broadcast getting in each other's faces.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Their necks contorted slightly and smiles spread across their faces as the high-definition videos started and their journeys commenced.—
Haven Daley,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … MEDIA ‘SEE BS NEWS’ – Nikki Glaser criticizes CBS News network during Golden Globe Awards ceremony.—
,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Opposition criticizes the deal Skerrit provided few details on how his island, still facing a housing shortage after Category 5 Hurricane Maria devastated the island in September 2017, plans to accommodate the refugees.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the Gospels, Jesus faults the Pharisees for insisting on a legalistic Sabbath.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The group’s memo faults the NDAA on two fronts.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Hernández blames the regime for personal pain, too.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The master lawsuit in the Palisades fire blames several defendants for overgrown brush, toppled wooden power poles, natural gas explosions and a lack of water that all contributed to the mammoth blaze.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Three weeks later, in early October, Kim knocks on Helen’s door.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
One of the biggest knocks on him is his lack of experience.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By contrast, Eugenia condemns herself to a future of festering tension and fury.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The government condemns the reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials who were carrying out their noble duty.—
Ashley Carnahan , Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
18 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hamas, which initially accepted the ceasefire text, now denounces the framework as an effort to turn an emergency pause into a permanent security order.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
29 Dec. 2025
-
One celebrates the beauty and moral uplift of the Sabbath; the other denounces the immorality of the godless in the fiery manner of a tent-revival preacher.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pans. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
