braids 1 of 2

plural of braid
as in plaits
a length of something formed of three or more strands woven together until she was 15, she had a braid that reached to her knees

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

braids

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of braid
as in weaves
to form into a braid they taught each other how to braid yarn into bracelets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 braids
Noun
Senior Anna Stromberg first started getting her hair styled by Huettl sophomore year, and likes to do a bun with either four braids, dragon braids, or two braids. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026 At the beginning of the tour, Bibbs experimented with color in her hair for the first time, opting for bright-red braids that stood out under the glow of the stage lights. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026 Her flowing braids were twisted into an elegant cascading updo with two skinny strands framing her face. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 The exterior of the sculpture is adorned with synthetic braids, a fundamental material with Peacock, for whom braiding is a metaphor for relation, an embrace, irreducible intimacy. — Jane Bua, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026 For a decade, hundreds of Black women and girls have gathered in Kansas City wearing curls, coils, locs, braids and Afros for an annual photograph intended to challenge narrow ideas about what beautiful hair is supposed to look like. — Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026 Her signature micro braids were scooped up into a half-up, half-down style with free-flowing tendrils curling around her forehead and cheekbones. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 27 Sep. 2026
Verb
Smedium goddess braids One step up on the size spectrum, situated, as the name suggests, between small and medium, smedium braids are great for anyone seeking a fuller look. — Eden Stuart, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026 The script, by Luke Davies, loosely braids three different timelines. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 Nattiv skilfully braids together the key events that lead to Rita’s breakdown, with a breathtaking sense of tension across the flashbacks. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 As someone who is fascinated by aliens but continually frustrated by how often alien narratives end in war or violence, I was captivated by the way that Chiang braids time and language while imagining a new species. — Chloe Benjamain, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026 Hamilton let his signature braids down ahead of his race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which marks the seventh stop on the Formula 1 calendar this year. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 The latter, in particular, braids the bittersweet melodies of anorak-sporting vintage twee with ear-bleeding country-grunge that evokes Meat Puppets’ heaviest squalls. — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026 His death gives shape to the plot, which braids together the police investigation with relevant flashbacks. — Judy Berman, Time, 26 Feb. 2026 Fischer skillfully braids the three stories together, situating them in an atmosphere of creative ferment and reckless churn. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for braids
Noun
  • While both goddess braids and boho braids are knotless styles with loose human or synthetic curls braided into some or all of the plaits, the amount of loose hair and where it’s placed is usually what’s up for debate.
    — Eden Stuart, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Her glossy hair, braided into two plaits, hung down over her shoulders in a style unusual for young girls these days.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The track weaves together experiences of colonialism, trauma, and resistance, with the innocence of childhood as a backdrop.
    — Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Spain’s Oscar submission weaves Federico García Lorca’s unfinished play into a story that spans generations.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Both silhouettes feature the collaboration’s signature sawtooth sole and tassel details on the laces.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The heel of the shoe and its tongue tag also feature co-branding with Nigo and j-hope’s names on them and, instead of standard cotton laces, the sneakers have braided, multicolor ropes that pick up on the overall color scheme.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In the image shared with her more than 1 million Instagram followers, a smiling Mitchell wore a red beret and sunglasses, and extra stars and stripes pinned to her cardigan lapel.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The outfit featured horizontal stripes in burgundy and mustard yellow and was paired with shoulder length gloves in a matching pattern.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Braids.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/braids. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster