1
as in chatter
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
their patter could be heard down the hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in terminology
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field
the patter of highbrow criticism that one hears in fashionable art galleries
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the toddler pattered on for what seemed like hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patter
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
The pianist and vocal coach Bénédicte Jourdois, NYFOS’s associate artistic director, assisted with the accompaniments and with the stage patter, of which there is always a fair amount.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The rain was pattering on the windowpanes all night.
—Philip Metres
july 30, Literary Hub, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for patter
Noun
Great speeches, and even greater presenter patter for a change.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
The pianist and vocal coach Bénédicte Jourdois, NYFOS’s associate artistic director, assisted with the accompaniments and with the stage patter, of which there is always a fair amount.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
As rain pattered against windows, and trees lining the streets swayed, flurries of urgent texts began ricocheting from one end of the neighborhood to the other, and panic set in as some residents put on their shoes and hurried out the door.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The rain was pattering on the windowpanes all night.
—Philip Metres
july 30, Literary Hub, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for patter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patter
Noun
-
Like all the best restaurants in Rome, Piatto Romano welcomes a steady stream of Italians for lunch and dinner, who fill the restaurant with chatter and laughter.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The chatter around streaming bots grew noticeably louder in August 2025, when a prison phone call between Young Thug and an unidentified associate leaked online.—
Kyle Eustice,
VIBE.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’s no official word from Netflix, but the terminology making it into the code could suggest an imminent launch.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
-
That’s looks-maxxing terminology for becoming really, really hot.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While chatting during a recent visit, my niece stood next to a chair and put one foot on the seat.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And don't forget to join the Bake Club Group chat over on Substack.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the proposal was full of cartoonishly goofy faux spy talk.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Pakistan said Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will send top diplomats to Islamabad for talks aimed at ending the war, arriving Sunday for a two-day visit.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Today, many of those words fill out the default dialect of an entire generation — regardless of race, region or class — living online.—
Moriah Humiston,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Poison frontman, evoking the regional dialect of his native Pittsburgh, bursts with adrenaline on a typical day.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whilst most Fortune 500 Europe companies have not officially stated that English is a necessity, it’s almost assumed that at the C-Suite or senior level, individuals can converse in English.—
Aslesha Mehta,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
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Set on a remote Scottish island, the film follows siblings Isla (Rankin) and Sandy (O’Rourke), who spend their days hunting birds, conversing with mythical beings, and fiercely fending off outsiders.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The propeller hat has become a signature look for the pig — a 4-year-old Vietnamese potbelly named Merlin — who has more than 1 million followers on Instagram, a surprisingly hefty vocabulary and a Guinness World Record.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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The subject matter is deathly serious—international war, unfolding in real time, killing thousands—yet the visual vocabulary is preposterously trivializing.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The second time around, the glass rattled as Ovechkin made contact with York, and the crowd at Capital One Arena noticed.—
Bailey Johnson,
Washington Post,
1 Apr. 2026
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Since strikes began in February, Iran has blocked tanker traffic through the strait, sending global energy prices surging and rattling financial markets.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patter. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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