as in caressed
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 patted
With her eyes closed, Val calmly patted her feline.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Deputies then patted him down and found a handgun and extra magazine in his pants, officials said.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2025
Crayton had brined the chops, patted them dry, seasoned them with Tony’s, fried them, and simmered them over a low flame all morning in a black pot with garlic and butter.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
This Carnival connoisseur patted herself on the back many times for that sage decision.
—Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
This time Sloan firmly patted the chicken pieces on top and underneath.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Deputies then patted him down and found a handgun and extra magazine in his pants, officials said.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2025
Crayton had brined the chops, patted them dry, seasoned them with Tony’s, fried them, and simmered them over a low flame all morning in a black pot with garlic and butter.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
This Carnival connoisseur patted herself on the back many times for that sage decision.
—Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
This time Sloan firmly patted the chicken pieces on top and underneath.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patted
Verb
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In one photo, the couple posed on the beach while Wyatt caressed her growing baby bump.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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In photos the pop superstar shared, Kelce could be seen down on one knee as Swift caressed his face during the intimate moment.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Toronto first got to Junk in the third inning as Nathan Lukes stroked a leadoff double, advanced on Ernie Clement’s flyout and came home on Springer’s RBI single.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Aug. 2025
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On the pitch, Rory Delap had one hand on his hip while the other stroked his chin.—
Max Mathews,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patted. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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