as in favorites
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 pats
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 pets
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
In a video call with reporters, Eskamani said the suspension allows time to craft new rules excluding sloths from being allowed to be kept as pets or for exhibition.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
This grooming brush is designed for both long and short-haired pets and features a self-cleaning mechanism.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Bricks from the specified lots have been asked to not feed the product to their pets, and can request a refund by contacting Albright's Raw Pet Food directly.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Be sure to monitor any pets for reactions.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Wu said the best way to stay safe is not to eat wild mushrooms, avoid eating mushrooms picked by friends or family and to keep children and pets away from areas where wild mushrooms grow.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Few county shelters have kennels, and people sleeping outside are often hesitant to abandon their pets just to sleep in a bed for a few nights.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Charlotte Maracina, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
This method creates a durable, washable bed that pets love.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 13 Mar. 2026
Transmission most often occurs when people or pets ingest food or water contaminated with raccoon feces.
—Amy Corral, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Transmission most often occurs when people or pets ingest food or water contaminated with raccoon feces.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Participants dress head-to-toe in pink tutus and wigs, pets sport pink ribbons, and there’s even a Pink Soup Parade, complete with stilt walkers, marching bands, and dancers.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
Feed pets indoors whenever possible.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
Adoptable pets with black fur are less likely to be adopted, an article from Adopt a Report found.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Sometimes pets like to use fringe as toys, so be extra cautious with cats and dogs.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
An evacuation center for residents and pets has been opened at the Chino Hills Community Center, at 14250 Peyton Drive.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
In a video call with reporters, Eskamani said the suspension allows time to craft new rules excluding sloths from being allowed to be kept as pets or for exhibition.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
This grooming brush is designed for both long and short-haired pets and features a self-cleaning mechanism.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Bricks from the specified lots have been asked to not feed the product to their pets, and can request a refund by contacting Albright's Raw Pet Food directly.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Be sure to monitor any pets for reactions.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Wu said the best way to stay safe is not to eat wild mushrooms, avoid eating mushrooms picked by friends or family and to keep children and pets away from areas where wild mushrooms grow.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Few county shelters have kennels, and people sleeping outside are often hesitant to abandon their pets just to sleep in a bed for a few nights.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Verb
The best way to remove ticks from your property is to keep up with general yard maintenance, especially around bushes that pets frequently brush up against.
—Charlotte Maracina, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
This method creates a durable, washable bed that pets love.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 13 Mar. 2026
Transmission most often occurs when people or pets ingest food or water contaminated with raccoon feces.
—Amy Corral, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Transmission most often occurs when people or pets ingest food or water contaminated with raccoon feces.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Participants dress head-to-toe in pink tutus and wigs, pets sport pink ribbons, and there’s even a Pink Soup Parade, complete with stilt walkers, marching bands, and dancers.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
Feed pets indoors whenever possible.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
Adoptable pets with black fur are less likely to be adopted, an article from Adopt a Report found.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Sometimes pets like to use fringe as toys, so be extra cautious with cats and dogs.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pets
Noun
-
Cam Ross and Dane Key are the early WR favorites to stick past August.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
-
There are baking projects like homemade bagels, riffs on fast-food favorites, and a couple of drinks to round things out.—
Hannah Lee Leidy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Tuanzebe buries his head in Bakambu’s neck and pats his back repeatedly.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
-
But when Sandel saw more chimps appear, the primates did not reunite in their typical fashion of loud screaming, pats on the back and holding hands.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Atop the bill is powerhouse singer-songwriter/indie artist Thao, the eponymous title of Thao Nguyen, centerpiece of indie darlings Thao & the Get Down Stay Down.—
Aaron Davis,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
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Also starring Jack Palance and Fritz Lang, the behind-the-scenes drama about the making of a movie begins with Bardot lying nude on a bed as her husband (Michel Piccoli) caresses and praises her body.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
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For an artisanal twist, look no further than Ezcaray Matisse throw that looks as if Georgia O’Keeffe applied the paint brush strokes herself.—
Kristine Hansen,
Architectural Digest,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pets. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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