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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pat
Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
The story was too pat, too earnest, too self-flattering.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, 21 Apr. 2020
ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
In the clip, Liu took a good look at the figures, adjusted their clothing and even patted one on the backside.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pat
Adjective
The film stars Oscar winner Brendan Fraser as Phillip Vandarploeug, an ex-pat American actor living in Tokyo.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
The story was too pat, too earnest, too self-flattering.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Adverb
The 2016 draft was the last time the Bengals stayed pat through all seven rounds.
—Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, 21 Apr. 2020
Verb
Wembanyama tumbled to the court and remained down for a minute while George patted him on the backside apologetically.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
In the clip, Liu took a good look at the figures, adjusted their clothing and even patted one on the backside.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pat
Adjective
-
Consumers were facing stubborn inflation even before the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But the unpopular war with Iran and stubborn affordability issues have given Democrats cause to be more hopeful about their chances of flipping key seats and even winning control of the Senate.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Quilted jackets layer perfectly over long sleeves, short sleeves, light sweaters, and even dresses.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, that doesn’t mean that any eventual peace deal will perfectly balance the victors’ and vanquished’s demands.—
Philippe Welti,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Electric Bleu is French food caressed with California seasonality and the occasional pop of Aussie nostalgia.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Following their Play-In loss, Leonard was non-committal about his future, but Frank was adamant about the team’s intentions.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The police were very adamant from early on in the investigation that no one in the Guthrie family was involved.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Enclosed behind a barrier, a theme park is immaculately clean and features fancy landscaping and roving mascots who pose for photos and spread positive vibes.—
John Haddad,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Although immaculately updated, traces of the past remain in the property’s 26 miles of crown moulding restored by a team from Paris.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Elton John doing a handstand on his keyboard, Roger Daltrey stroking a microphone, Ian Anderson making the flute somehow look cool — his pictures became a means of connection for fans.—
David Di Sabatino,
SPIN,
3 Apr. 2026
-
At first, Hanke thought Miyabi was just stroking his ego.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For 19 years, its dedicated staff and steadfast supporters have provided vital care to over 100,000 young people across southern Africa, including young people living with HIV/AIDS and those facing mental health challenges.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The league is steadfast about its accuracy.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Acclimating our senses was rooftop breakfast served by a gracious staff who introduced us to Armenian coffee — finely ground into a powder and brewed in a jazzve pot.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The aluminum chassis has a sleek, silvery look, and the monitor is sturdy, finely crafted, and well-proportioned.—
Tony Hoffman,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pat. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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