patting down

Definition of patting downnext
present participle of pat down

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patting down
Verb
  • The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier.
    Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • And that’s important, especially as players age, because teams like the Dolphins seize on shaking down injured, or underperforming talent.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The phone hit Green near his ear, with blood quickly running down his neck following the impact.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2026
  • What the picture didn’t document were the tears running down Marilyn’s cheeks.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But for Hall, the convoluted process of finding out about the ectopic pregnancy, and then undergoing emergency surgery, added layers to her pain.
    Emily Brindley Health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Someone who can hold all that is someone worth finding out about.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Patting down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patting%20down. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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