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patch

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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
Google will do several more monthly patches in the interim, but the dark mode fix is not slated for inclusion. Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025 This is a game barely anyone played that no one will give a second look at after this week, patches or no. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
Use it to prepare for seed season in tiny soil pods that can be difficult to navigate, or use it to re-seed dirt patches with grass seed. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025 Lateral movement should be designed to stretch strengths, not patch internal gaps or offer placeholder promotions — or worse pseudo-promotions — titles or roles with limited or no real authority. Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for patch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patch
Noun
  • Their backs are a mixture of cream dots, orange-ish speckles and brown blotches.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 June 2025
  • These are more typically animals with stripes instead of blotches, missing patterns, and similar.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Like specks of dirt falling victim to a vacuum, balls were simply drawn into his glove.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 19 June 2025
  • This natural phenomenon, in which light-emitting sea creatures like algae cause the water to glitter with specks of blue and white light, is best viewed on a dark, moonless night.
    Jessie Beck, AFAR Media, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Despite his policy expertise, Murthy’s speech was personal, relating the lowest points in his career and the power of a small group of friends to shift his mindset and repair his spirit.
    Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Every few wash days start your regimen with Olaplex’s No. 3, an exceptional bond repair designed to repair damage and strengthen hair’s structure in just ten minutes.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • For example, Apple's Face ID employs infrared dot projection and on-device AI to prevent spoofing.
    Rohan Pinto, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Schoolhouse Dot Percale Sheet Set $199 Schoolhouse Polka dots aren’t solely for the pint-sized among us.
    Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • The Padres have a fair shot to regroup and win one of three wild-card playoff spots, even if Preller may have to get a little bit lucky in the trade market.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
  • There’s familiarity, there’s evolution and there’s a little bit of something for all demographics of music too, not just country.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The company also launched a new secure network architecture called Cisco Live Protect, which is meant to shield your network from an exploit within minutes to give your IT security team time to fix the underlying issue.
    Patrick Moorhead, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Fort Worth’s health inspections function on a demerit system: Zero demerits is considered a perfect score, while restaurants with over 30 demerits are required to fix the worst issues immediately and remedy the others within 48 hours.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • The gloss comes in six sheer shades, ranging from clear to a purple hue, and four of them include shimmery flecks that’ll catch the light to make your lips look even juicier.
    Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 4 June 2025
  • Miniature crystals dot the brown enamel to look like flecks of salt.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • According to Chi Li, assistant research professor and first author of the study, the small particles identified tend to come from direct air emissions, such as black carbon particles from diesel engines, or the smoke from wildfires.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
  • By combining Chandra's X-ray and VLA's radio data, the researchers calculated that particles in the J1405+0415 jet are traveling at 95% to 99% the speed of light.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Patch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patch. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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