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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of patches
Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
For small patches, mechanical methods are the best route, and chemicals will help with larger areas.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026
On the sponsorship side, the Padres were the first to take advantage when MLB began allowing clubs to sell sleeve patches on their jerseys.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 20 Apr. 2026
These patches don’t contain dopamine — a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) made primarily in the brain with many important functions in the body, including neurological processes necessary for pleasure, memory, and learning.
—Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Apr. 2026
The cornerstone of the collab is hydrocolloid pimple patches in trendy shapes like shrooms and daisies.
—Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Even Wall Street can’t answer these questions yet, but banks at least have the staffing and the money to work out the difficult structural changes needed to eventually do patches in near-real time.
—Parmy Olson, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Keith Sharon, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Candidate mission patches for the inaugural flight suggest that Mengzhou, which features a low-Earth orbit variant designed to carry six or seven astronauts and another to take three to low lunar orbit, could rendezvous with or fly alongside China’s Tiangong space station.
—Andrew Jones, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
Flight controllers in Houston flipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.
—Marcia Dunn, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
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
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
Noun
From outside the jail, a person can make out the small windows set into patches of red brick.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
For small patches, mechanical methods are the best route, and chemicals will help with larger areas.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026
On the sponsorship side, the Padres were the first to take advantage when MLB began allowing clubs to sell sleeve patches on their jerseys.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 20 Apr. 2026
These patches don’t contain dopamine — a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) made primarily in the brain with many important functions in the body, including neurological processes necessary for pleasure, memory, and learning.
—Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Apr. 2026
The cornerstone of the collab is hydrocolloid pimple patches in trendy shapes like shrooms and daisies.
—Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Even Wall Street can’t answer these questions yet, but banks at least have the staffing and the money to work out the difficult structural changes needed to eventually do patches in near-real time.
—Parmy Olson, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
Moore is 72 now, with 22 years of Trail of Tears patches on his leather vest, confirming his journeys.
—Keith Sharon, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Candidate mission patches for the inaugural flight suggest that Mengzhou, which features a low-Earth orbit variant designed to carry six or seven astronauts and another to take three to low lunar orbit, could rendezvous with or fly alongside China’s Tiangong space station.
—Andrew Jones, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
Flight controllers in Houston flipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.
—Marcia Dunn, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patches
Noun
-
This was a black one with blotches faintly outlined in pale yellow, a beautiful but deadly looking animal.—
Dr. C. E. Kuschel,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The eggs vary in color—from white to blue to brown—with speckles, blotches, and other markings and are also distinctive in shape.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Featuring bolder, thicker spots at the top and more refined, micro specks down the skirt, this mini dress makes all-day, fashionable wear easier than ever.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Silvery or mottled patches on leaves, brown or distorted petal edges, dark specks (feces) or flower buds that fail to open are signs of thrips.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sleep is when the body repairs itself and the mind takes a brief vacation.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
One of the most expensive costs around Colorado is around housing, not just the cost of renting but also repairs.—
Mekialaya White,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its design, crafted by Russell Sage Studio, is meant to be an on-the-nose reflection of the distillery's famed product, with bronzy walls the color of its single malt, and a ceiling painted to look like barley, reflecting the morning dew with flecks of gold throughout.—
Alessandra Amodio,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Berber carpet Berber is a type of loop pile carpet with flecks of color.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Quaise is developing a drilling system that uses millimeter wave energy to melt and vaporize rock at extreme depths where conventional drill bits struggle with heat and pressure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Watching babies get blown to bits should do something to you.—
Adelle Platon,
VIBE.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In finance, the gold standard fixes a currency’s value against a specific quantity of a specific object.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Clover naturally fixes nitrogen-deficient soil and improves soil fertility, which helps nearby plants.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These markers could be as simple as a grid of dots on the outside of the window or as complex as ultraviolet coatings that birds can see but humans can’t.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
-
That said, a few words readily available would help connect the dots without undermining the provocation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And some interactions — most notably, particles interacting through the weak force — exhibit asymmetries when particles are replaced with antiparticles, when reflected in a mirror, or when their clocks are run backward instead of forward.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
-
At subatomic scales, particles behave very differently from those in the real world, and scientists often have to develop new theories to explain this behavior.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patches. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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