PATROLLING Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

patrolling

verb

present participle of patrol

as in guarding

to walk or go around or through (an area, building, etc.) especially in order to make sure that it is safe The squad had orders to patrol the area. The border is patrolled by the army.

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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 patrolling Much of their time is spent patrolling tourist corridors and downtown transit hubs, areas where crime is generally low. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Safe and Beautiful Task Force have been assisting police with patrolling the streets, according to the Pentagon. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026 Fishing for striped bass near this kind of structure can be productive in the summer and fall, sometimes by employing vertical jigging with hefty spoons or soft plastics to entice fish patrolling the bottom. — Ken Perrotte, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 During Coastal Commission comments, member Caryl Hart inquired about patrolling at night, but city representatives said the city currently does not have a program for night enforcement. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2026 The 17-story-tall South Hangar was built in 1942 to house blimps patrolling the West Coast during World War II, scanning for Japanese submarines. — Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 24 July 2026 So those who already have higher levels of IgE patrolling the blood might be prone to developing alpha-gal syndrome than those with lower amounts. — Alice Park, Time, 23 July 2026 Officers patrolling nearby heard the shots and rushed to the scene on foot, police said. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026 At MetLife Stadium, Rodri was the game’s grammarian, a classical, correct presence, patrolling the central corridors of the pitch. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrolling

Verb

Johnson is guarding Isaac Okoro in the corner and is shading far off of him as the action is on the opposite side of the floor.

— Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Pleasant, a rising junior who was limited during spring camp with a shoulder injury, should get the first crack at guarding opposing top receivers.

— Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of guarding

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patrolled

patrolling

patrolman

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Style

“Patrolling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrolling. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of patrolling

verb

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