as in caressing
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 patting
Sprinkle the salt mixture all over the turkey, including inside the cavity, patting to adhere and nudging some into the crevices.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Taken together, the answers provided a sort of battle-damage assessment of the current moment, the kind undertaken while everyone is still patting themselves to figure out which parts survived the explosion intact.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s cute, today’s masters of the universe will chuckle while patting your head.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
In the video, officers are seen repeatedly patting the baby's back until Makai -- who was wearing pajamas adorned with police cars -- was able to breathe on his own.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Without missing a beat, the teen jumped into action, performing the Heimlich maneuver and patting the customer on the back before the man sat back down.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
At times, its puzzle-solving and chaotic arcade shooting felt like patting your head while rubbing your stomach.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The grip-and-grin handshakes, with Trump patting Putin’s hand in a gesture known to maître d’s everywhere.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Taken together, the answers provided a sort of battle-damage assessment of the current moment, the kind undertaken while everyone is still patting themselves to figure out which parts survived the explosion intact.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s cute, today’s masters of the universe will chuckle while patting your head.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
In the video, officers are seen repeatedly patting the baby's back until Makai -- who was wearing pajamas adorned with police cars -- was able to breathe on his own.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Without missing a beat, the teen jumped into action, performing the Heimlich maneuver and patting the customer on the back before the man sat back down.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
At times, its puzzle-solving and chaotic arcade shooting felt like patting your head while rubbing your stomach.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The grip-and-grin handshakes, with Trump patting Putin’s hand in a gesture known to maître d’s everywhere.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patting
Verb
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The 39-year-old Nigerian-British actress hit the first official awards show of the season, donning a canary yellow gown and caressing her bump as the cameras flashed.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
-
In one instance, Alix leans in to whisper something in his ear while caressing his back.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the black-and-white video, MGK could be seen holding his baby daughter's hand, stroking her fingers.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
25 Nov. 2025
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At one point Eliot entered the TV room and found Abby with her head on Claire’s lap, Claire stroking her hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patting. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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