pet 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpet How to pronounce pet (audio)
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)

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pet

3 of 4

adjective

as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention spent my free time on my pet project

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
Between food, toys, treats, beds, crates and more, shopping for pets can get expensive. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 Meals and transportation are also available to residents, and pets are allowed. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Though pet rooms are limited and are based on availability, two dogs up to 60 lbs. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 FitLife Expo Enjoy an afternoon of fitness with health and wellness vendors, giveaways, health screenings, music, a pet parade, Breast Cancer Walk and more. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
Kenzie assumed the creature was a type of legless lizard native to Europe and started petting it. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for pet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pet
  1. favorite
  2. pouts
  3. beloved
  4. pat
  5. darling
  6. loved
  7. stroke
  8. cherished
Noun
  • More than 250 films from long-time festival favorites and new and emerging voices will screen at the 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival (LFF), which kicks off on Wednesday.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Lunch and dinner entrees include a prime rib French dip with Gruyere, another old favorite from the Fort Worth location.
    — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of favorite
Noun
  • Interspersed with Mellencamp’s idiosyncratic views of himself were old press shots of the singer, many without a shirt or showcasing pouts and flexed biceps, that fit the song’s wry message.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 30 July 2026
  • So how, exactly, did these polka-dot pouts make their way onto the mood board?
    — Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 25 June 2026
Definition of pouts
Adjective
  • That’s because the hotel was founded by Shin Young-kyun, a beloved South Korean film actor and politician who was born in 1928—hence, the hotel’s name.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In an era where millions of recipes are made for content consumption as much as actual consumption, traveling back in time for someone’s beloved 1970 banana bread recipe sounds pretty nice.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of beloved
Verb
  • In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess.
    — Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Trump repeatedly patted Xi on the back, a gesture considered highly inappropriate in Chinese political culture.
    — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of pat
Noun
  • Our favorite dress picks have a variety of styles and versatile features, like darling ruffles, cinching waistlines, and trending silhouettes.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2026
  • There’s his drop-dead gorgeous spouse, a huge welcoming home, darling children, and a pillar-of-the-community job that gives him a clean conscience.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of darling
Adjective
  • Granbery was reunited safely with her loved ones, who helped with search and rescue operations and provided critical information to help locate her, the sheriff's office said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The company has also expanded into care and repair and a pre-loved business, extending the life of products while creating additional ways to engage consumers.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of loved
Verb
  • The young woman on the left strokes her hair and tells her not to be nervous.
    — Anna Griffin, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Charli even stroked the bathroom hand dryer — a clever reference to everybody’s favorite scene in Desperately Seeking Susan.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of stroke
Adjective
  • For much of her early life, that single question was the most precious gift Laura had ever been given—more cherished than her Barbies or her Baby Alive or her Sunshine family dolls.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Macy served the Placer County DA’s office from 2006 to 2020 and remained a cherished part of its extended family.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of cherished

Phrases Containing pet

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pesty
pet
petcock
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Cite this Entry

“Pet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pet. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pet

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