PATCHES Synonyms: 186 Similar and Opposite Words

patches 1 of 2

noun

plural of patch

as in blotches

a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part a black cat with a small patch of white next to her nose

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in specks

a very small piece a patch of land hardly big enough for a garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

patches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of patch

as in repairs

to put into good shape or working order again patch the tire and it'll be as good as new

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 patches

Noun

Unlike the James Webb Space Telescope, which trades panoramic views for a narrow field of view to peer deeply into small, specific patches of the sky, Roman is built for scale. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Scalp Around half of people with psoriasis have symptoms affecting their scalp, such as silvery-white scaly patches, itching, and pain. — Ruth Jessen Hickman, HEALTH, 25 Aug. 2026 Chemical Treatment For isolated patches, chemical control is an option. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026 Some of our favorite barrel leg pants actually accentuate the balloon silhouette or taper of the leg by adding darts, extra side panels, pleats, patches, or other elements that highlight the aesthetic element. — Lucía Tejo, Glamour, 22 Aug. 2026 Many cats described as bald have fine fuzz or patches of fur, and recognition varies across cat registries. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 The list also includes pine rocklands, home to species found only in Miami-Dade, hardwood hammocks and land near the Oleta River, one of the few remaining patches of wilderness in urban Miami. — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 Drugmakers continue to face severe supply constraints for transdermal estrogen patches as demand surges, The Hill writes. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026 Add the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until no patches of flour remain. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Verb

Last Friday, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ published their most recent shortage update list naming the brands of estradiol patches on back order, intermittent back order, as well as those that are currently available. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 13 Aug. 2026 Reps send payment links manually, RevOps patches data and Finance chases numbers that should’ve been captured upstream. — Ashish Srimal, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 When Google publicly discloses and patches a flaw, details of exploiting the bug are often vague. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026 Through the agreement, the Jayhawks will sport XRP Cryptocurrency patches on every Kansas Athletics jersey, including for the KU men’s basketball team. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026 Sweat patches Many professional soccer players started using commercial wearables long before the World Cup kicked off. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 Intel Macs running macOS 26 Tahoe can expect security and Safari patches for about two more years after the release of macOS 27 Golden Gate. — Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026 First, find all your ilmenite-rich regions (which are typically in lunar mare, the dark patches on the moon that signify frozen seas of ancient lava). — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026 There are also discounts on self care staples like these Medicube eye patches that de-puff, firm, and brighten tired under-eyes in a pinch. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patches

Noun

Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
The next morning, a galaxy of itchy red bumps and blotches stretched from my shoulder to my hip.

— Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026

Definition of blotches

Verb

Courtesy of Fleet Feet Like any muscle, a healthy heart suffers damage and repairs itself each time it is stressed.

— Matt Moret, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Simpson was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare congenital heart condition where the heart repairs damage with tissue that doesn't properly conduct electricity in the right ventricle.

— Errol Barnett, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of repairs

Noun

The soup itself has an almost lemon curd-like acidity and sweetness, and it’s laced with flecks of fresh corn and tiny diced pieces of zucchini.

— Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Amid his vast responsibilities running all the departments in the Giants’ front office, Zaidi still found the time to pore over MLB Draft League statistics and look for flecks of gold.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of flecks

Noun

The track, which blends smooth R&B vocals with contemporary pop production, came almost a decade after bits of the song first leaked on social media.

— Caché McClay, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Lechter selected the best bits and organized them into six lessons spread over 10 chapters.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of bits

Noun

Yayoi Kusama, whose obsessive repetitions of dots and nets became a means of expressing infinity, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary art worldwide, died on August 14 of multiple organ failure at a hospital in Tokyo.

— Tessa Solomon for ARTnews, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Repetitive motifs in various shapes were her trademark, resembling netting, swirls or worms, but most often dots, dancing proudly on her canvases or as sparkling balls or dots of light in her installations in all their vibrant, psychedelic glory.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of dots

Noun

The investigation report also said the fire resulted from hot metal particles falling onto vegetation below the tower, which had not been cleared in years.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
These trails form when aircraft engine emissions encounter extremely cold air found at high altitudes, causing tiny ice particles to develop.

— Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026