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

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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
In terms of beauty, Zendaya has swapped out her bixie—for now—and worn her XXL hair in undulating waves and twisted crown-like braids. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 July 2026 Daughter North was spotted, too (ahead of her Kimokawaii coheadlining tour), wearing long aqua blue braids, full makeup and chunky sneakers, holding a peace sign and sparkler. Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 14 July 2026 Princess Charlotte usually wears her hair in a half-up style, sometimes throwing in braids or ribbons. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 Here, Jordyn Woods rocks her goddess braids in a ponytail with the top two front braids left loose for a soft, tendril-y look. Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 9 July 2026 Two thick braids began just above the temples before wrapping over and around her head like an organic headband. Marci Robin, Allure, 6 July 2026
Verb
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 Her work in this comprehensive anthology braids politics, gender, history and memory into confiding and powerful lyrics. Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for braids
Noun
  • Simone Biles wore these dirty brown medium plaits that are gold medal-worthy.
    Aleah Wright, InStyle, 8 July 2026
  • From that glossy start emerges an elaborate, colossal bun composed of braids in varying widths—from pencil-thin plaits woven around the base to chunkier folds making up the lion’s share of the height-enhancing sculpture.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The rapper, who has the small role of a bard in Nolan’s cinematic retelling of the Greek epic poem, weaves together Homer’s prose with modern lyricism on the ghostly track that alludes to Odysseus’ long journey.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
  • The hotel’s design concept weaves a story around the fictional historic Lamarck University, an homage to the French evolutionary theorist, which was supposedly founded in 1894, then abandoned in the 1940s, and ultimately restored by Marriott.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • These light-up shoes come in a variety of styles, from low-tops to high-tops and shoes with straps or laces.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
  • The boot relies on a combination of stretch ripstop upper fabric, laces and centrally zippered overlay to provide a confident, foot-conforming fit.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • From the get-go, Jean Paul Gaultier empowered women with strong tailoring, visible corsetry, sailor stripes and other signposts of Parisian chic.
    Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 17 July 2026
  • For the Miami race, the team temporarily added the stars and stripes of the American flag, albeit shown in black and white, as a celebration of the first of three home races for the team this season.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 17 July 2026

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

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