patch 1 of 2

noun

ˈpach How to pronounce patch (audio)
Definition of patchnext
1
as in blotch
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

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2
as in speck
a very small piece a patch of land hardly big enough for a garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

patch

2 of 2

verb

as in to repair
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb patch contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of patch are mend, rebuild, and repair. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

When can mend be used instead of patch?

While the synonyms mend and patch are close in meaning, mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

When is it sensible to use rebuild instead of patch?

The words rebuild and patch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

When would repair be a good substitute for patch?

The meanings of repair and patch largely overlap; however, repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

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 patch
Noun
But everyone will immediately notice all those new jersey patches for Notre Dame, Ohio State, LSU, Wisconsin and many more, especially when the Buckeyes are bringing in $17 million for theirs and the Irish are loudly earning up to $20 million. — Jason Kirk, New York Times, 31 July 2026 While Curiosity has seen small patches of these shapes before, this is the largest area ever found. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Verb
There have been outward signs of Microsoft’s internal struggle to deal with the growing list of bugs to be patched. — Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 29 July 2026 If a group plan feels tense, don’t patch it with clever wording alone. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for patch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patch
  1. blotch
  2. speck
  3. repair
  4. dot
  5. bit
  6. fix
  7. fleck
  8. particle
Noun
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
  • Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Definition of blotch
Noun
  • By Pond Farm is now asking a speck under $4 million with Turpin Realtors/Forbes Global Properties.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 July 2026
  • Rather than waiting several years to look at the object through the VLT once more, Sutlieff, Bonse and their colleagues dove into older, archival imagery of the star system, looking for signs of their speck.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
Definition of speck
Verb
  • Elsewhere during the trip, Steven and Kacie finally repaired their strained relationship after months of tension.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
  • High-performer burnout is only repaired by an honest audit and strategic reallocation of energy to the tasks that matter most.
    — Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of repair
Noun
  • Two Plössl eyepieces provided different magnifications, and there was also a red-dot finderscope and a manual equatorial mount with slow-motion cables.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Typically, these dots are used in advanced solar cells, bio-imaging, and ultra-high-definition displays.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of dot
Noun
  • And in April 2026 a researcher chasing Project Eleven's Q-Day Prize broke a 15-bit key on real quantum hardware.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • This light, summery soup is filled with fresh sweet corn and zucchini, and topped with savory bacon bits.
    — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of bit
Verb
  • The tech giant was racing to fix weaknesses in its code that a new AI model known as Mythos was uncovering at an unprecedented clip.
    — Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 29 July 2026
  • The OpenAI agents exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Artifactory, which OpenAI has since disclosed to JFrog, and which the company confirmed has since been fixed.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of fix
Noun
  • One image of her right knee showed flecks of blue plastic that prosecutors said came from an inflatable pool Burke used to collect blood while dismembering her body.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
  • Someone unfamiliar with salt bread might even suspect a major baking error, seeing a questionably smooth croissant that entirely missed the lamination process, adorned with only a few flecks of salt acting as its saving grace.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • Giant fans at the air bases would blow the pale particles around, Jack said, putting him directly in the path of the chemical.
    — Nicole Borman, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • These particles act as seeds on which water vapor condenses to form cloud droplets.
    — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Definition of particle

Phrases Containing patch

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patch
patched
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Cite this Entry

“Patch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patch. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on patch

Nglish: Translation of patch for Spanish Speakers

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