Synonyms of pet

pet 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpet 

as in favorite

a person or thing that is preferred over others

the teacher's pet was always getting special privileges

Synonyms & Similar Words

• favorite
• darling
• cup of tea
• preference
• minion
• speed
• beloved
• fave
• dear
• treasure
• sweetheart
• prize
• jewel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abomination
• anathema
• bugbear
• bête noire

pet

2 of 4

noun (2)

as in pouts

a state of resentful silence or irritability

the teenager stalked off in a pet after being refused permission to go the movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pouts
• dumps
• blues
• irritableness
• irritability
• sensitivity
• snit
• sulk
• sulkiness
• fretfulness
• sullenness
• grouch
• hump
• crossness
• peevishness
• mopes
• pettishness
• perversity
• disagreeableness
• crankiness
• fantods
• surliness
• waspishness
• grumpiness
• grouchiness
• crotchetiness
• biliousness
• dyspepsia
• irascibility
• testiness
• petulance
• cantankerousness
• choler
• orneriness
• irascibleness
• perverseness
• oversensitiveness
• querulousness
• fussiness
• huffiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cheerfulness
• gaiety
• friendliness
• sociability
• lightheartedness
• amenity
• perkiness
• sociality
• cordiality
• geniality
• affability
• gladsomeness
• pleasantness
• high-spiritedness
• agreeableness
• graciousness
• amicability
• amiability
• amiableness
• good-temperedness
• good-humoredness
• good-naturedness

pet

3 of 4

adjective

as in beloved

granted special treatment or attention

spent my free time on my pet project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beloved
• loved
• cherished
• favorite
• precious
• special
• darling
• sweet
• favored
• adored
• dear
• fond
• white-headed
• fair-haired
• treasured
• appreciated
• admired
• revered
• esteemed
• preferred
• prized
• relished

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disliked
• hated
• detested
• despised
• ignored
• forgotten
• abhorred
• disfavored
• loathed
• abandoned
• unbeloved
• unfavorite
• alienated
• disdained
• abominated
• estranged
• execrated

pet

4 of 4

verb

as in to pat

to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner

a cat who loves to be petted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pat
• stroke
• caress
• love
• hug
• fondle
• cradle
• gentle
• cuddle
• paw
• snuggle
• nuzzle
• baby
• neck
• bill
• spoon
• nose
• massage
• nestle
• feel up
• canoodle
• pamper
• knead
• enfold
• dandle
• coddle
• embrace
• bounce
• indulge
• spoil
• mollycoddle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pet

Noun

Sutter County Public Health urged residents to make sure pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

At Malate Church in Manila, parishioners marked the feast by bringing their beloved pets for a special blessing — mostly dogs but also cats and even a pet snail. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Even in the coolest part of the year, your bed is still seeing body oil, sweat, skin cells, pet hair, and more on its sheets. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026

The curious case of the Flynn’s two pet dogs in the nighttime also provided key evidence, much like in the famed Sherlock Holmes story. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Verb

But perhaps no animal is more beloved than Cheeto, an orange cat who lives near the university’s physics department and is the regular subject of doting and petting from students. — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Last November, Bass announced a pilot task force, which became permanent this summer, to investigate allegations of animal cruelty on Skid Row and train police officers to handle those situations as well as offer basic resources to pet owners. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing pet

• in a pet
• pet peeve