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
Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Twain has long been accused of giving Huck Finn an overly pat, comic ending.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
Salvador Rizzo, chicagotribune.com, 14 May 2018
Using a slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to a bowl of ice water to cool; pat dry.
—Bon Appetit, 14 May 2018
Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026
The dog then slumped into the boat, with one crew member gently patting it in comfort.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pat
Adjective
The story was too pat, too earnest, too self-flattering.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Twain has long been accused of giving Huck Finn an overly pat, comic ending.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
Adverb
The use of police pat-downs declined as a result starting in late 2015, according to Cassell and Fowles.
—Salvador Rizzo, chicagotribune.com, 14 May 2018
Using a slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to a bowl of ice water to cool; pat dry.
—Bon Appetit, 14 May 2018
Verb
That was also the night Kelvin Sampson called time after a Pierce 3-pointer late in the game and patted Pierce on the backside in a show of sportsmanship as Pierce exited the game, his last game at Allen.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026
The dog then slumped into the boat, with one crew member gently patting it in comfort.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pat
Adjective
-
California continues to face a stubborn digital divide.—
William Jones,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Experts warn that the stubborn metric has long-term implications for learning.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
McDonald’s has kind of been able to, not perfectly, but steer clear of some of those viral politicization almost on accident in both of those cases.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The neighborhood/area Hotel Jerome is perfectly positioned in the heart of downtown Aspen.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The actor followed her around at several events related to the wedding, eventually caressing the back of her arm and pressing his knee against hers under the table.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Democrats, however, remain adamant that verbal assurances are no longer enough.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The club were adamant that any January signing would be made with a view towards the long-term, rather than opting for a short-term fix, but the injury to Jeremie Frimpong, which left Liverpool without a fit right-back, did alter that.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
This was the nightmarish miracle of the castrato, whose bell-clear tones were immaculately preserved but oddly flavored, like butter buried in a peat bog.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The siblings and their struggles prove more than worth revisiting, even if the delivery device isn’t as immaculately designed.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Influenced by her Indian heritage, Japanese craft philosophy, and the traditions of Shetland knitting, her work is highly distinctive and also wholly wearable; David and I stroked scarves, asymmetric wraps, and sweaters with yearning.—
Sarah Moss,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His madman approach seems to not be working, as the EU seems steadfast against him (while here at home, President Gordo’s madness is still very evident).—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
All the while we will be encouraged by our steadfast belief that the sacred garment that is our country needs us, its warp and weft threads.—
Scott Santarosa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Add 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and 2 small sprigs thyme, leaves picked, and cook, stirring often, until radicchio is softened and wilted, 5–8 minutes.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Koobideh, always the popular kid of kebabs, is made at Berenjak in a style using lamb shoulder so finely ground that the meat resembles tiny, distinct sausages, rather than an unbroken shape formed in undulating patterns over the skewer.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pat. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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