patient 1 of 2

noun

ˈpā-shənt How to pronounce patient (audio)
Definition of patientnext
as in case
an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment the nurse asked the patient to change into a paper gown

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patient

2 of 2

adjective

ˈpā-shənt How to pronounce patient (audio)
1
as in stoic
accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint you were very patient about having to wait for me for so long

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in persistent
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement a patient effort to finish college despite the mounting debts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 patient
Noun
Her season-three story line in which her patient (Sherry Cola) took her own life was a solid showcase. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026 All nine patients had underlying health conditions and were hospitalized after wounds had been exposed to seawater, officials said. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The Connecticut Sun, willing to be patient with any ups and downs, has been investing in young players like former UConn center/forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa, acquiring her in a trade in January 2023. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026 Once that news started to spread — and go viral online — patient demand began to spike. — Mara Gordon, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patient
  1. case
  2. stoic
  3. persistent
  4. victim
  5. obedient
  6. insistent
  7. passive
  8. subordinate
Noun
  • But in almost every case, Spurs failed to sell at the right time.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That state has seen nine cases of the bacterial infection Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, its health department said in a news release.
    — Alex Nettles, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of case
Adjective
  • Iriarte-Valdez appeared stoic during the hearing as his attorney entered the plea on his behalf.
    — Maddie White, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Even more shocking is Annie’s encounter with Ramona(Amélie Hoeferle), the stoic and standoffish redhead who looks exactly like Annie’s dead mom and who insists Gordon was also her grandfather.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of stoic
Adjective
  • The scorching temperatures and persistent droughts in June and July mutually reinforced each other to create a hot weather spiral, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft built to provide persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of persistent
Noun
  • The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel previously alleged that there were 44 victims throughout 2025.
    — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The victim, a 15-year-old female, was home with her 5-year-old and 7-year-old family members when Reyes violently made entry into the residence after breaking a hole in the wall between the apartments.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of victim
Adjective
  • The native, late summer-blooming obedient plant is a showy addition to your garden.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
  • This fantasy of the obedient wife becomes Agamemnon’s undoing.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Definition of obedient
Adjective
  • So why were the Board of Peace and mediators insistent on moving forward with the plan now?
    — Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
  • James Madison was insistent that Congress was the most important and powerful branch, especially the House, which was closest to the people and, being elected every two years, would infuse new blood and new ideas into Congress in perpetuity.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of insistent
Adjective
  • Watching television is a cognitively passive activity because viewers are primarily receiving information rather than actively processing it.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • In a hushed environment, the buds' passive isolation is often sufficient.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of passive
Adjective
  • These reforms, however, remain embedded in a judiciary that is subordinate to Communist Party leadership.
    — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Allies replied that all elements of the Japanese state would be subordinate to occupation authorities.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of subordinate

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Cite this Entry

“Patient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patient. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on patient

Nglish: Translation of patient for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about patient

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