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
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 energy commission’s report on power costs was even thinner gruel, mostly patting itself on the back for adopting standards for appliances and other power-using devices that reduced their demands.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
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 energy commission’s report on power costs was even thinner gruel, mostly patting itself on the back for adopting standards for appliances and other power-using devices that reduced their demands.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patting
Verb
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The Young Pope star was seen caressing Coan’s back and whispering in her ear.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The singer was spotted in pictures shared to social media, gently caressing the baby bump of his romantic partner.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
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Sometimes just stroking the ball to the other field, as Andres Gimenez did to drive in a run, or rolling one through the hole as Addison Barger did for an RBI in that inning, works just as well.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
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One game, especially one so dominated by the defense, certainly isn’t enough to decide whether this is even an issue, but noted QB whisperer O’Connell has to be stroking his chin.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patting. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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