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
Andy’s diagnosis pulled her back overnight—a common reality for glioblastoma families, since the disease often forces patients to stop working. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 July 2026 That means patients can be vulnerable to more aggressive debt collection tactics and surprise bills. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Adjective
The Rockies need standout talent and can afford to be patient. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 9 July 2026 The princess announced in 2025 that her cancer was in remission and has continued to support cancer research and patient care. — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 8 July 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
  • Mark Levine, the city's comptroller, said that this current cluster of cases is from a contaminated cooling tower, and not a water system.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Waiting to hear from the Vatican Kunst said he was tapped by Bishop Daniel Felton — who presented Buh’s case at the conference — to gather information regarding a possible cause for sainthood.
    — Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
Definition of case
Adjective
  • Hearn nodded when the clerk read him his charges and appeared stoic.
    — Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 9 July 2026
  • Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the pitch after his final World Cup match for Portugal with a stoic look on his face and only the slightest hint of emotion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of stoic
Adjective
  • In his inital letter, Lehmkuhl agreed that there is an urgent need to clear debris and address the persistent odor of millions of pounds of rotting food at the site.
    — Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Though effective medication exists, the issue is persistent in areas with a lack of easy access to testing, treatment and clean water so people don't rely on local bodies of water for drinking and bathing.
    — William McCarthy, NPR, 4 July 2026
Definition of persistent
Noun
  • The most meaningful one for her was an ornament workshop attended by several victims of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • The Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) identified the victim as 18-month-old Wilson Mathias Jr.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of victim
Adjective
  • Second, victims of higher taxes don’t stand still and get sheared like obedient sheep.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • The dogs Kostyukevich saw on Happy K9 Academy’s Instagram page seemed happy and obedient.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
Definition of obedient
Adjective
  • Frightening and insistent, impossible yet certain, a feeling more powerful than knowledge.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • The loud and insistent residents of Monterey Park showed that shaming and pressuring politicians can work.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of insistent
Adjective
  • The TikTok edits, the outfit identification threads, the contestant rivalries trending on X by the end of an episode, all of it turns 60 minutes of passive viewing into a multi-platform conversation that runs all week.
    — Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Jones more aggressive Jones’ three appearances in the California Classic were defined by a passive way of playing.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
Definition of passive
Adjective
  • Executive Vulnerability How a leader reacts in the five-second window after being corrected by a subordinate determines the future of that company’s innovation.
    — William DeCourcy, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • Now the focus is those who preach or serve in subordinate pastoral roles.
    — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 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 12 Jul. 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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