1
as in blotches
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 specks
a very small piece
a patch of land hardly big enough for a garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in repairs
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patches
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Feb. 2026
The planet’s auroras appear as rosy, glowing patches that extend above the visible edges of Uranus’s atmosphere in the JWST images, which also capture the ice giant’s delicate ring system and the bright clouds around its polar cap.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026
Officials say roads that look clear may have black ice patches, especially on bridges and overpasses.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Infused with high-performing botanicals, wearable wellness patches are an easy, discreet way to manage whatever life throws your way, steadily releasing ingredients for up to eight to 12 hours.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Three decades later, that secret arrived on American shores like a tsunami—sheet masks, snail mucin, toner pads, pimple patches lining every retail shelf.
—David Yi, Allure, 23 Feb. 2026
Some of the main pharmaceutical companies producing estradiol transdermal patches sold in the US include Amneal, Sandoz, Noven, Viatris and Zydus.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Many Americans came to depend on the subsidies, which were simply patches over the gaps in a health care system that may feel duct-taped together, and not really working for patients, providers or insurers.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Coyotes make homes in tiny green spaces across cities like small patches of forest, golf courses or cemeteries.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026
The orchestra shifts seamlessly among movie-music impressionism, brief minimalist pulsings, patches that sound like updated Gilbert and Sullivan, and heart-on-sleeve surges of voices and orchestra worthy of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
There's a massive shortage of estogren patches A shortage in estrogen patches — due to manufacturing issues and some brand discontinuation — has been exacerbated by an increase in prescriptions for estrogen since the Food and Drug Administration removed its black box warning label last fall.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
Estradiol patches replenish the body’s estrogen.
—Marina Kopf, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
For both genders, the leather patches on the back of the jeans can be customized, a service the company also offers for its boots and hats.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
Eye patches the day of are a must.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Jan. 2026
Video of the encounter shows Lee at the front of the crowd when officers with Illinois State Police patches on their sleeves pushed in an apparent attempt to clear them from a paved area, and some demonstrators tried to hold their ground.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Use mobile device management (MDM) tools to push updates remotely or require users to install OS updates and patches promptly.
—Mike Rosen, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Instead of skittering off, the hot droplets start sticking and seeping into the surface texture, and leave wet patches behind.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Feb. 2026
The planet’s auroras appear as rosy, glowing patches that extend above the visible edges of Uranus’s atmosphere in the JWST images, which also capture the ice giant’s delicate ring system and the bright clouds around its polar cap.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026
Officials say roads that look clear may have black ice patches, especially on bridges and overpasses.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Infused with high-performing botanicals, wearable wellness patches are an easy, discreet way to manage whatever life throws your way, steadily releasing ingredients for up to eight to 12 hours.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Three decades later, that secret arrived on American shores like a tsunami—sheet masks, snail mucin, toner pads, pimple patches lining every retail shelf.
—David Yi, Allure, 23 Feb. 2026
Some of the main pharmaceutical companies producing estradiol transdermal patches sold in the US include Amneal, Sandoz, Noven, Viatris and Zydus.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Many Americans came to depend on the subsidies, which were simply patches over the gaps in a health care system that may feel duct-taped together, and not really working for patients, providers or insurers.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Coyotes make homes in tiny green spaces across cities like small patches of forest, golf courses or cemeteries.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
The spontaneity running through Da Realest patches over the mundane stretches.
—Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026
The orchestra shifts seamlessly among movie-music impressionism, brief minimalist pulsings, patches that sound like updated Gilbert and Sullivan, and heart-on-sleeve surges of voices and orchestra worthy of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
There's a massive shortage of estogren patches A shortage in estrogen patches — due to manufacturing issues and some brand discontinuation — has been exacerbated by an increase in prescriptions for estrogen since the Food and Drug Administration removed its black box warning label last fall.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
Estradiol patches replenish the body’s estrogen.
—Marina Kopf, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
For both genders, the leather patches on the back of the jeans can be customized, a service the company also offers for its boots and hats.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
Eye patches the day of are a must.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Jan. 2026
Video of the encounter shows Lee at the front of the crowd when officers with Illinois State Police patches on their sleeves pushed in an apparent attempt to clear them from a paved area, and some demonstrators tried to hold their ground.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Use mobile device management (MDM) tools to push updates remotely or require users to install OS updates and patches promptly.
—Mike Rosen, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patches
Noun
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
-
These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Tiny beads of blood had seeped out and dried into tiny specks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Also known as sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, age spots are additional specks and bits of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure.—
Essence,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, researchers at Texas A&M University created a dynamic material that repairs itself after being punctured by shifting from a solid to a liquid state and back again.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
After a rinse-off mask and a day and night serum (which won a PEOPLE beauty award in 2025) it's added a balm which repairs split ends by relinking broken bonds for visibly healthier hair.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bit of glimmer is echoed in subtle flecks on the dancers’ shimmery white unitards.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That, plus distinct green (herbs) and black (pepper) flecks, made this contender feel higher-end, inspiring us to declare Trader Joe’s the best ranch dressing overall.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This was subsidized housing for the working class, with buildings arrayed in an irregular pattern bordered by bits of landscaped greenery.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Beauty benefits aside, the granola is particularly cluster-y and quite delicious, with a vanilla-forward flavor profile and bits of pistachio in every bite.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One fixes the bone, while the other does skin grafting of the wounds, which adds to recovery time.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Swapping the wires usually fixes the problem.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The same telescope will likely reveal Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s cloud bands, transforming them from bright dots into distinct worlds.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Place bump dots on thermostats, remote controls, or hangers.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The speed at which these planetesimals are moving and the strength with which their particles interlock helps determine which shape their fusion ultimately results in.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Space.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Additionally, the fine particles are easily surrounded by oxygen, posing a combustion risk when close to an open flame.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patches. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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