Definition of patchnext

patch

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb patch contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of patch are mend, rebuild, and repair. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

When can mend be used instead of patch?

While the synonyms mend and patch are close in meaning, mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

When is it sensible to use rebuild instead of patch?

The words rebuild and patch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

When would repair be a good substitute for patch?

The meanings of repair and patch largely overlap; however, repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

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 patch
Noun
The daffodils here were almost finished, apart from one little patch of stragglers still flowering on heroically against the odds. Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 The dog’s ribs poked out, her skin was irritated and red, and patches of fur were missing — a possible sign of mange. Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
After all, no one will trust a V2X network to do anything if that network’s cyber vulnerabilities haven’t been anticipated and patched in advance. IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2026 Some roofs were patched temporarily until a better fix can be made. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patch
Noun
  • Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Calcium shows up as bright white specks on the coronary artery images.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Pulse a few times, until crumbs range in size from specks to peas.
    Leah Eskin, Midwest Living, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The team announced after Monday’s practice that Tyler Smith, its best offensive lineman and arguably the top offensive guard in the game, will be out four to six weeks after needing left thumb surgery to repair damaged ligaments.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The company employs about 850 people, does hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure work around the Northeast, and is frequently Connecticut’s choice on big-ticket contracts to construct schools, rebuild highways or repair bridges.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The dot-plot grid of individual officials’ expectations indicated that 16 of the 18 participants – Warsh has chosen not to submit a dot since taking the position – expected another rate increase, with four of those seeing two more as possible.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The sixth-year safety is wearing the green dot for the first time in his career this season and calling the defense, but even still, how could the Colts look that disjointed and unprepared after so much talk about execution and urgency?
    James Boyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The 3-1 margin of victory could have been wider had City not at times missed that final bit of polish at Joie Stadium.
    Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales have been largely out of the spotlight recently, spending the remaining bits of the summer with their three children before school begins for each.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • There is a particular sort of helplessness that comes from knowing exactly how to fix a computer while being hundreds of miles away from it.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Definitions are useful in subjects like mathematics, whose components are fixed enough to stay put.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Some kits include stone-like chips or flecks to scatter over the surface of the wet paint for a realistic effect.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Hundreds of flecks of sequins caught the light as Jenner made her way down the red carpet, glittering from every angle.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This holds even when the two particles are separated by a large distance from each other, prompting Einstein to call this behavior ‘spooky’.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But those procedures can also send plastic particles down the drain — waste that South Florida’s wastewater systems aren’t designed to catch.
    Laurie Mermet, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patch. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!