as in caresses
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
affectionately patted the baby on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pats
During the performance, the singer kneels down to hand Fox the award and pats his head before continuing on.
—
Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Inside the facility, Angela empties her pockets, a guard scans her with a metal-detection wand, pats her down and asks her to spread her legs.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The clip, shared by Sarah Ingle (@saraheingle), a dedicated dog fosterer, shows seven-month-old Cookie Crisps nestled in her arms while Ingle gently pats her bottom.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
As a matter of fact, pats on the back are probably very few and far between.
—Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Inside the facility, Angela empties her pockets, a guard scans her with a metal-detection wand, pats her down and asks her to spread her legs.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The clip, shared by Sarah Ingle (@saraheingle), a dedicated dog fosterer, shows seven-month-old Cookie Crisps nestled in her arms while Ingle gently pats her bottom.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 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
Verb
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Also starring Jack Palance and Fritz Lang, the behind-the-scenes drama about the making of a movie begins with Bardot lying nude on a bed as her husband (Michel Piccoli) caresses and praises her body.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Dec. 2025
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Then Jennifer Tilly’s hand gently caresses Gina Gershon’s face from her cheek down to her chin.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
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For an artisanal twist, look no further than Ezcaray Matisse throw that looks as if Georgia O’Keeffe applied the paint brush strokes herself.—
Kristine Hansen,
Architectural Digest,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pats. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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