as in favorites
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
as in pats
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
a cat who loves to be petted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pets
Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Fabrics and floors with staying power In homes where pets will regularly be on the furniture, Bridgman is more likely to recommend performance fabric for upholstery.
—Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Beyond that, pets are expected to get some Valentine's Day love as well.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Who has pets, children or college degrees.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s also the friends who check in without being asked, the family members who show up in the quietest of ways and the people — or pets — who make your everyday life feel a little lighter.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
The event also features adoptable pets from Central Florida rescues and shelters.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
Spotlight employees’ pets through a company-wide feature.
—Marissa Andrada, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
The bill would prohibit the importation, sale, and offer of sale of pets that are transgenic, meaning they are created by implanting a gene from one species into another.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Participants dress head-to-toe in pink tutus and wigs, pets sport pink ribbons, and there’s even a Pink Soup Parade, complete with stilt walkers, marching bands, and dancers.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
Feed pets indoors whenever possible.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
Adoptable pets with black fur are less likely to be adopted, an article from Adopt a Report found.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Sometimes pets like to use fringe as toys, so be extra cautious with cats and dogs.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Other big stories ➤ These pets up for adoption in metro Phoenix shelters this week.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Afterward, the monster has a moment with Wendy, who pets its head, and communicates with it using clicking noises.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Feed pets indoors whenever possible.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
Ensure surfaces cleaned with Pine-Sol are thoroughly rinsed and free of chemicals before allowing pets access, as ingesting cleaning products can be harmful to animals.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Fabrics and floors with staying power In homes where pets will regularly be on the furniture, Bridgman is more likely to recommend performance fabric for upholstery.
—Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Beyond that, pets are expected to get some Valentine's Day love as well.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Who has pets, children or college degrees.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
There’s also the friends who check in without being asked, the family members who show up in the quietest of ways and the people — or pets — who make your everyday life feel a little lighter.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
The event also features adoptable pets from Central Florida rescues and shelters.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
Spotlight employees’ pets through a company-wide feature.
—Marissa Andrada, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
The bill would prohibit the importation, sale, and offer of sale of pets that are transgenic, meaning they are created by implanting a gene from one species into another.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Transmission most often occurs when people or pets ingest food or water contaminated with raccoon feces.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Participants dress head-to-toe in pink tutus and wigs, pets sport pink ribbons, and there’s even a Pink Soup Parade, complete with stilt walkers, marching bands, and dancers.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
Feed pets indoors whenever possible.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
Adoptable pets with black fur are less likely to be adopted, an article from Adopt a Report found.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Sometimes pets like to use fringe as toys, so be extra cautious with cats and dogs.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Other big stories ➤ These pets up for adoption in metro Phoenix shelters this week.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Afterward, the monster has a moment with Wendy, who pets its head, and communicates with it using clicking noises.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Feed pets indoors whenever possible.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pets
Noun
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From galaxy-spanning Star Wars icons to Broadway favorites, wizarding rivals, and nostalgic cartoon duos, BrickHeadz builds turn favorite pop culture figures into desk- and shelf-worthy decor.—
Brittany Anas,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Feb. 2026
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Her other dependable favorites are Vitamin A’s Ada Metallic Underwire One-Piece Swimsuit and Cupshe’s High Waisted V-Neck Twist Front Bikini Set.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Inside the facility, Angela empties her pockets, a guard scans her with a metal-detection wand, pats her down and asks her to spread her legs.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
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The clip, shared by Sarah Ingle (@saraheingle), a dedicated dog fosterer, shows seven-month-old Cookie Crisps nestled in her arms while Ingle gently pats her bottom.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, the market drop Wednesday was driven by a selloff in semiconductor stocks, with Advanced Micro Devices falling nearly 16% after earnings, and market darlings like SanDisk and Micron dropping by double-digits on a percentage basis.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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Along with cream cheese and sour cream, this trio of dairy darlings melts into a rich and ultra-satisfying sauce to coat noodles and ground beef.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Also starring Jack Palance and Fritz Lang, the behind-the-scenes drama about the making of a movie begins with Bardot lying nude on a bed as her husband (Michel Piccoli) caresses and praises her body.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Dec. 2025
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Then Jennifer Tilly’s hand gently caresses Gina Gershon’s face from her cheek down to her chin.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
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For an artisanal twist, look no further than Ezcaray Matisse throw that looks as if Georgia O’Keeffe applied the paint brush strokes herself.—
Kristine Hansen,
Architectural Digest,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pets. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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