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
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Recent Examples of patches
Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
The Saudis should be thrilled with the draw, as favored Uruguay, La Celeste, dominated large patches of the match with 67 percent overall possession, a 10-3 margin in shots, 14-4 in corner kicks, more than double the accurate passes and forcing nine saves of the busy Saudi goalkeeper.
—Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026
When populations become large enough, patches of grass may turn brown, thin out or pull up easily from the soil.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
The researchers used satellite data to identify more than 20,000 acres of landslide scars — visible patches of rock, soil, and debris — which wiped out nearly 12% of forest cover in this region.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Workers used a swimming pool-type vacuum cleaner to suck up algae from the bottom, leaving behind clean patches of American Flag Blue paint adjacent to enormous swaths of green algae in a pattern familiar to anyone who has ever vacuumed a carpet before.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
The farm welcomes visitors during select times of the year, most notably for its annual Pumpkin Festival each October, offering pumpkin patches, wagon tours, family activities and seasonal entertainment.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Parting your hair down the center and splitting the difference makes thin hair look thicker, and helps to cover up any patches, the expert adds.
—Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 15 June 2026
Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026
First, find all your ilmenite-rich regions (which are typically in lunar mare, the dark patches on the moon that signify frozen seas of ancient lava).
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
There are also discounts on self care staples like these Medicube eye patches that de-puff, firm, and brighten tired under-eyes in a pinch.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Security patches fix vulnerabilities that scammers often target.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
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
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
Noun
Since applying those patches to the Cameroon players’s arms wasn’t really an option, a rethink was required.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
The Saudis should be thrilled with the draw, as favored Uruguay, La Celeste, dominated large patches of the match with 67 percent overall possession, a 10-3 margin in shots, 14-4 in corner kicks, more than double the accurate passes and forcing nine saves of the busy Saudi goalkeeper.
—Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026
When populations become large enough, patches of grass may turn brown, thin out or pull up easily from the soil.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
The researchers used satellite data to identify more than 20,000 acres of landslide scars — visible patches of rock, soil, and debris — which wiped out nearly 12% of forest cover in this region.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Workers used a swimming pool-type vacuum cleaner to suck up algae from the bottom, leaving behind clean patches of American Flag Blue paint adjacent to enormous swaths of green algae in a pattern familiar to anyone who has ever vacuumed a carpet before.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
The farm welcomes visitors during select times of the year, most notably for its annual Pumpkin Festival each October, offering pumpkin patches, wagon tours, family activities and seasonal entertainment.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Parting your hair down the center and splitting the difference makes thin hair look thicker, and helps to cover up any patches, the expert adds.
—Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 15 June 2026
Verb
Intel Macs running macOS 26 Tahoe can expect security and Safari patches for about two more years after the release of macOS 27 Golden Gate.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026
First, find all your ilmenite-rich regions (which are typically in lunar mare, the dark patches on the moon that signify frozen seas of ancient lava).
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
There are also discounts on self care staples like these Medicube eye patches that de-puff, firm, and brighten tired under-eyes in a pinch.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Security patches fix vulnerabilities that scammers often target.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patches
Noun
-
Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
-
Inadequate iron causes young leaves to appear yellow with green veins, while magnesium deficiency causes blotches or spots on older leaves.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
This looks like tiny black or reddish-brown specks that resemble coffee grounds.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
9 June 2026
-
But such interludes add up to small specks of stormclouds in the show’s otherwise sunny skies.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Delilah becomes single, repairs her relationship with Percy and allows her friend to take control of the Tavern.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
-
Many newer systems still have significant useful life remaining, making repairs a better financial value.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
But flecks of green were visible throughout the stadium as Algeria fans made their presence known as well.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
There are also flecks of red embedded throughout the pattern.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
After hearing these songs, the happier ones at the beginning of the album reveal bits of shadow that Rodrigo has built into them to presage what’s to come — to presage what always comes.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Work was completed on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool last weekend, with attention turning to other bits of the president’s construction projects, such as his triumphal arch.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The model writes the code, runs the tests, reads the errors, fixes the code, runs the tests again, and reports back when something is shipped.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Beside her, the dog shakes itself, droplets flying from it, then fixes her with an appraising gaze.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The interns cannot connect the dots looking forward.—
Chris Perry,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Little red dots first started to turn up when the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began sending data back to Earth in the summer of 2022.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Cool the griddle completely and wipe up any rust particles or debris with paper towels.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
18 June 2026
-
With a 9-liter filter basket and wide intake area, it’s designed to capture everything from fine particles to large leaves, requiring less emptying and freeing up more pool time.—
V BRAND STORIES,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patches. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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