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
Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The recipe starts with thick-cut, bone-in pork chops that are patted dry and sprinkled all over with salt and pepper.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 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
To reiterate the capabilities found pat GE, Predix.io works to help connect industrial assets across the internet of things and the wider world of machinery and equipment to to the cloud and to each other.
—Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The recipe starts with thick-cut, bone-in pork chops that are patted dry and sprinkled all over with salt and pepper.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pat
Adjective
-
For Baxter and the stubborn Scot, this marked, at last, the reality of war’s end.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Here’s the case for Scorpio: Wednesday is suss, secretive, brooding, vengeful and stubborn.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
The menu features succulent beef joints and tender game meats, accompanied by perfectly roasted root vegetables.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The proposal was perfectly on brand for the low-key couple.—
Sarah Jones,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Pulling out the rocket launcher Mac had bought him on the dark web, Dennis was genuinely overcome, caressing his bucket-list war weapon in stunned gratitude, while Mac beamed in what, on any other show, would be heartwarming friendship.—
Dennis Perkins,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
-
The drives summoned by Gill and KL Rahul have been things of beauty, caressing the ball to the fence with such effortless ease.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, Coast Guard officials were adamant that FEMA makes the ultimate decision, and that FEMA’s choices may differ from the Coast Guard’s recommendations.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
30 July 2025
-
However, she’s remained adamant that to pull off paying homage to the famed actress, everything must be done right.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
In the black-and-white video, Kelly could be seen holding his baby daughter's hand, stroking her fingers.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
In addition, Holt is an avid supporter of the Go Red for Women campaign, the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Exciting developments are on the horizon, but no matter how ebikes evolve, one rule remains steadfast: Buy a bike from a manufacturer that offers good customer support.—
Stephanie Pearson,
Wired News,
8 Aug. 2025
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From that same place comes her steadfast advocacy for the Latino community.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
6 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
This involves adding finely ground olivine—a naturally occurring olive-green colored mineral—to sandy beaches.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Once garlic is minced, add basil and 1/2 cup olive oil; process until finely minced, about 1 minute.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Easily the most expensive British automobiles of the era, the coupe and convertible models were christened Corniche in 1971 as a nod to the roads hugging the French Cote d’Azur.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
15 Aug. 2025
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The Great River Road hugs the Mississippi River with picturesque landscapes perfect for stops and photo ops.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pat. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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