Patient — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈpā-shənt/ pa·tient

Meaning & Definition of Patient

Patient (adjective)

  1. enduring pains or trials calmly or without complaint
  2. acting with calm or restraint under provocation or strain
  3. not hasty or impetuous, showing deliberation or restraint

Patient (noun)

  1. an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment
  2. the recipient of any of various personal services
  3. one that is acted upon

Patient (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment

    "the nurse asked the patient to change into a paper gown"

    similar: case
    related: inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitant, sufferer, victim, convalescent, nursling

Patient (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint

    "you were very patient about having to wait for me for so long"

    similar: forbearing, long-suffering, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining
    related: lenient, acquiescent, passive, resigned, unresistant, yielding, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformist, docile, law-abiding, obedient, placable, submissive, subordinate, tractable, willing, slavish, subservient, amiable, obliging, collected, composed, constrained, contained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, disciplined, self-contained, self-controlled, apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive
    opposite: complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting
    near: bored, tired, weary, defiant, resistant, contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly

  2. continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement

    "a patient effort to finish college despite the mounting debts"

    similar: dogged, insistent, persevering, persistent, pertinacious, tenacious
    related: assured, certain, dedicated, determined, firm, hell-bent, intent, positive, resolute, resolved, single-minded, sure, adamant, bullheaded, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, implacable, indurate, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unregenerate, unyielding, willful, unfaltering, unhesitating, unwavering, resistant, wayward, wrongheaded, constant, devoted, faithful, good, loyal, staunch, steadfast, steady, true, indomitable, unconquerable, hard, inflexible, relentless, stern, unbending, unflinching, unrelenting
    near: quitting, surrendering, yielding, faltering, hesitant, hesitating, irresolute, vacillating, wavering, disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, traitorous, treacherous

Related Entry: Dumping (noun)

Dumping is a different word from Patient. The synonyms below are for dumping, not for patient.

  1. the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless

    "the dumping of last year's fashions by the garment manufacturers"

    similar: discarding, disposal, disposition, jettison, junking, removal, riddance, scrapping, throwing away
    related: clearance, clearing, decimation, demolishment, demolition, destruction
    near: accumulation, acquirement, acquisition, collection, deposit, gathering

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Patient

The most common words with a similar meaning to Patient:

case, forbearing, long-suffering, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining, dogged, insistent, persevering, persistent, pertinacious, tenacious

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Patient

Words with the opposite meaning of Patient:

complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting

Related Words for Patient

inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitant, sufferer, victim, convalescent, nursling, lenient, acquiescent, passive, resigned, unresistant, yielding, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformist, docile, law-abiding, obedient, placable, submissive, subordinate, tractable, willing, slavish, subservient, amiable, obliging

Near Antonyms of Patient

bored, tired, weary, defiant, resistant, contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, quitting, surrendering, yielding, faltering, hesitant, hesitating, irresolute, vacillating, wavering, disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious

Origin & Etymology of Patient

Middle English pacient, from Anglo-French, from Latin patient-, patiens, from present participle of pati to suffer; perhaps akin to Greek pēma suffering

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Patient

Words & Phrases Containing Patient

patient dumping, patient zero, index patient, private patient

Frequently Asked Questions about Patient

What does "Patient" mean?

"Patient" means enduring pains or trials calmly or without complaint. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: enduring pains or trials calmly or without complaint. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Patient"?

Other words for "Patient" include case, forbearing, long-suffering, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining, dogged and insistent. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Patient" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Patient"?

There are 112 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Patient". Common alternatives include case, forbearing, long-suffering, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining, dogged, insistent, persevering and persistent.

What is the opposite of "Patient"?

Antonyms of "Patient" include complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy and protesting. Near antonyms include bored, tired, weary and defiant.

How do you use "Patient" in a sentence?

Examples of "Patient" in a sentence: "the nurse asked the patient to change into a paper gown"; "you were very patient about having to wait for me for so long"; "a patient effort to finish college despite the mounting debts".

Is "Patient" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Patient" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Patient" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Patient" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Patient"?

"Patient" is pronounced /ˈpā-shənt/ and divided into syllables as pa·tient.