pet 1 of 4

Definition of petnext
as in favorite
a person or thing that is preferred over others the teacher's pet was always getting special privileges

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pet

2 of 4

noun (2)

pet

3 of 4

adjective

pet

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verb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pet
Noun
This pet might have been adopted before publication. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026 Additionally, all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested, posing a risk to pets, children, and wildlife. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026
Adjective
Mosquitoes can also breed indoors under the right circumstances — in vases, indoor plants, pet bowls, drains, toilets, unfiltered aquariums and dirty dishes. Ryan Brennan april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 Keep an eye on vases, indoor plants, pet bowls, drains and even dirty dishes. Ryan Brennan april 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Passengers can pet and hug the animals. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026 Each visit lasts roughly an hour and a half, with handlers guiding the animals through terminal and entrance areas while passengers pet, hug and yes, kiss them. Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pet
Adjective
  • That looks like a straight between the subscribers and young Wilfred, who was left cursing his beloved Palace for conceding that stoppage-time goal at Anfield, denying him a precious four-pointer.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • And her performance here feels more like an evolution of a beloved character rather than empty fan service.
    Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Kids love the hands-on steps here — scooping soil, patting it down around the plants and writing Grandma’s name on a tag.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Kimmel, always happy to pat himself on the back, agreed.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.
    Eleanor Nash Updated May 1, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
  • Skeletal remains are air-dried, processed and returned to loved ones as powder in an urn or shaped as stones.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • In her first varsity at-bat the next day against Lincoln-Way Central, Krauchun stroked a single up the middle.
    Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Ferrer then went back to the sinker, placed the 98 mph pitch on the outside edge of the plate and Merrill stroked it to left, clearing the bases for a walk-off win in front the remnants of a sellout crowd of 46,095.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Nestled in western North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this cherished piece of the Tar Heel State includes picturesque Sylva, historic Dillsboro, and the beloved 200-year-old resort community of Cashiers.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
  • For many Black Americans, the decision was a death knell for a cherished pillar of the Civil Rights Movement.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Grudda pushed Barkow's wheelchair through the zoo, her hands caressing her mother's shoulders or pointing out the animals.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Electric Bleu is French food caressed with California seasonality and the occasional pop of Aussie nostalgia.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Another of White’s signature touches is his habit of repeatedly working with favorite actors.
    Dan Heching, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Host a dinner, invite your favorite people over, and let your space become the destination.
    Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Yet, amid all this anthropological interest in male behavior, a world beloved by men that is organized around the legacy of kings and a single precious metal has been hiding in plain sight, like a white Wakanda.
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Despite taking the overall checkered flag in 1995, the automaker has precious little experience at the famous race.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pet. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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