as in caresses
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
affectionately patted the baby on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 pats
Penny pats Harry's snout and jumps at his face at home.
—
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
As a matter of fact, pats on the back are probably very few and far between.
—Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
As a matter of fact, pats on the back are probably very few and far between.
—Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pats
strokes
Verb
-
Henry brushes it off as a nightmare; after Bug moves on, Beauchamp strokes the medallion and sings himself to sleep.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
22 Aug. 2025
-
In the town’s maternity ward, the only functioning facility of its kind for miles, Taisiya strokes Assol, her daughter born Sunday into a world where suddenly the risks of being in Sloviansk have multiplied.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pats. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share