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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention
spent my free time on my pet project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to pat
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
a cat who loves to be petted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pet
Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
The bill would pay for the creation of new dog parks and fund the cleaning of streets where dog owners fail to clean up after their pets, the same source reported.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Shop Bestsellers From Staud’s Pet Collection Holiday gift–buying season has commenced, and there’s a high probability of someone on your list this year being a pet-owner who’s obsessed with their canine or feline child.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
Other big stories ➤ These pets up for adoption in metro Phoenix shelters this week.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet
Noun
This infected milk can expose other cows, pets, wild animals, and possibly humans to the virus, a potential threat beyond just the farm.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
The bill would pay for the creation of new dog parks and fund the cleaning of streets where dog owners fail to clean up after their pets, the same source reported.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Some volunteers walked the grocery aisles with struggling pet owners.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Shop Bestsellers From Staud’s Pet Collection Holiday gift–buying season has commenced, and there’s a high probability of someone on your list this year being a pet-owner who’s obsessed with their canine or feline child.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Attractions covered by admission include a Lainey Wilson corn maze, hay ride, cow and pumpkin trains, carousel, zip line, jumping pillows, obstacle course, petting farm, mechanical swings and slides, musical shows and so much more.
—Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
Other big stories ➤ These pets up for adoption in metro Phoenix shelters this week.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pet
Adjective
-
There are love letters to the dead in Lasky’s life interwoven into these essays, including to her father (a judge who died, slowly, from Alzheimer’s), her artist mother, her dog Lucy, beloved poet friends, Mayer herself.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The set was comprised of songs from across the beloved group’s discography, including The Bends (1995), OK Computer (1997), Kid A (2000), Amnesiac (2001), Hail to the Thief (2003), In Rainbows (2007), The King of Limbs (2011) and A Moon Shaped Pool (2016).—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
Adjective
-
But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks.—
NPR,
NPR,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Preserving income, insurance and retirement Financial security also depends on preserving income and protecting loved ones.—
Bruce Helmer,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Their surfaces demand to be stroked so that fingertips register the contrast between rough concrete and polished terrazzo.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
3 Nov. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
The Super-Italian cookbook author posted a different tribute last week for one of her cherished pets.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Similarly, some music influencers have begun piloting live-listening and album-playback sessions on Twitch—an attempt to transplant a cherished artifact of the analogue era into the digital world.—
Jonathan Garrett,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a video shared by the Broncos from the unveiling, Smith is seen carefully caressed the statue of her son's face just after the curtain drops.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Then Jennifer Tilly’s hand gently caresses Gina Gershon’s face from her cheek down to her chin.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Grab it on Amazon right now, and check out my favorite air frying essentials below.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The trailer also offers an extended look at fan-favorite character Tyson (Daniel Diemer), a cyclops, and a brief glimpse of Tamara Smart as Thalia.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
To what end should the precious removal capacity be deployed?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The site features crosses of increasing sizes with a cruciform pit containing precious ritual artifacts at its center.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pet. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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