patch 1 of 2

noun

ˈpach How to pronounce patch (audio)
Definition of patchnext
1
as in blotch
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part a black cat with a small patch of white next to her nose

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in speck
a very small piece a patch of land hardly big enough for a garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

patch

2 of 2

verb

as in to repair
to put into good shape or working order again patch the tire and it'll be as good as new

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 display features a tent filled with clowns, body parts hanging from a tree and a central pumpkin patch that anchors the display. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 While the software flaws have now been found and patches issued, the question remains whether enough of the internet will deploy the patches in time, before hackers start exploiting the vulnerability to attack websites and steal vital data. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Harry has reportedly attempted to contact his older brother multiple times, but William has no interest in patching things up. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 5 Oct. 2026 Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, a cross-curricular supplemental resource, the program equips students with practical clothing repair and customization skills, from sewing a button to patching a hole or tailoring a hem. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patch
  1. blotch
  2. speck
  3. repair
  4. dot
  5. bit
  6. fix
  7. fleck
  8. particle
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
Definition of blotch
Noun
  • The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of speck
Verb
  • The foods were moved to the walk-in cooler and a work order placed to repair the refrigerator.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Nothing would lure them back to repair the fracture; not a 1998 tribute record, nor a £2 million reunion offer.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of repair
Noun
  • Earlier this year, YouTube removed the dislike button from YouTube Shorts, suggesting instead that users take advantage of options in the three-dots menu.
    — Jay Peters, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That precision also makes the applicator useful for creating small, natural-looking freckle dots.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of dot
Noun
  • Tomalak did a little bit of everything, fueling the offense as her team’s multidimensional quarterback and patrolling the secondary as a ball-hawking safety.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Cutie from Saie is one of my favorites for a little bit of a deeper antiblush.
    — Lindy Segal, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of bit
Verb
  • And while Buffalo and Jacksonville can use the break to rest and recharge, fans in Washington and Los Angeles are hoping a week away might somehow fix what’s gone wrong.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Tyler is still on the hook to help fix outstanding problems at the treasurer’s office involving property tax revenue payouts and distribution reports to local governments across the county, and pay out refunds to taxpayers.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fix
Noun
  • As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized jacket featured a furry white base adorned with flecks of silver, which beautifully mirrored the sumptuous coats on the runway.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • In 2025 mCDR start-up Gigablue sold 200,000 future credits for a method intended to stimulate phytoplankton on mineral particles that later sink.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • That approach allowed the researchers to cover a larger cosmic volume with more particles.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of particle

Phrases Containing patch

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patched
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Cite this Entry

“Patch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patch. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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