1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

bray 1 of 2

verb

Definition of braynext
as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles bray the seeds using a mortar and pestle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bray

2 of 2

noun

as in bleat

Related 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 bray
Verb
The need to placate a braying mob of X posters desperate to see Lemon in chains does not constitute an emergency. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026 Shortly after the New Year's ball drops (only once) in New York City, the Zohran Mamdani era will begin in the Big Apple and the political horses will be braying at the gates to start the 2026 midterm election season in earnest. — James Powel, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
Timbaland’s eerie, minimalist production — stuttering beat patterns, yawning silences between drum hits, synth riffs that bray and heave — was the ideal vehicle for Elliott’s slaloming, heavily syncopated raps. — New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026 My father mistakes it for the verb to bray, like a donkey. — Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bray
  1. grind
  2. bleat
  3. pound
  4. screech
  5. crush
  6. moo
  7. beat
  8. squawk
Verb
  • The corn is ground into masa, while fillings and banana leaves are prepared separately.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The branches and logs are then ground up and hauled out of town.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • Receiver pressed to one cheek, Molly listens to the bleat at the line’s other end, in the Peace Action apartment.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
  • On the southern end of the loop, check out the interactive Bison Center to feel hides, hear the creatures’ varied grunts and bleats, and learn about the park’s efforts to sustainably maintain the herd.
    — Jess Hoffert, Midwest Living, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of bleat
Verb
  • People who get sick typically develop a sudden high fever along with a pounding headache, pain behind the eyes and deep aches in the muscles, joints and bones.
    — Andrés Henao, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Usually the bar is a rowdy reprieve filled with sweaty bodies and pounding bass lines, with Lo situated behind the DJ decks.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of pound
Noun
  • The screech of guitar feedback echoed from a makeshift stage outside, where a punk-rock band had just launched into their set, a fitting accompaniment to the bar’s kaleidoscopic selection of beer.
    — Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • La Vierge de Fer contrasts the delicate fruit and a lily note with the screech of cold metal, sparkling aldehydes, and lilting sandalwood.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of screech
Verb
  • Meanwhile, local Church leaders hope the pope's visit will repair the Church's standing after a crushing 2021 report found that some 330,000 French children had been abused by Catholic clergy and lay leaders over seven decades.
    — Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The blast shattered windows, damaged a nearby church and crushed parked cars; officials had not determined the cause, though local reports pointed to a possible gas leak.
    — Lefteris Pitarakis, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of crush
Noun
  • Just say no to more moo juice One important person in the country's government is trying to modify this cultural habit.
    — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • My personal highlights were the tender, lightly caramelized moo ping pork skewers with sticky rice, succulent tomato stracciatella sourdough toast, and copious flawless mango, which melted in my mouth like butter.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of moo
Verb
  • It will be closed by leaders who decide that creating new value beats endlessly compressing old value.
    — Sumeet Salwan, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Colorado beat Georgia Tech in the season opener, but the Buffaloes didn’t look like a good team to me.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of beat
Noun
  • In a separate incident involving a squawk 7700 in July, a Southwest Airlines flight departing Kahului, Hawaii, sent out a squawk 7700 after a passenger experienced a medical issue on board, the airline confirmed to PEOPLE at the time.
    — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For aviation geeks or those who simply want to keep track of their plane’s unique flying data and route, squawk codes can be tracked on apps and websites like Flightradar24 and Flight Beacon.
    — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026
Definition of squawk

Browse Nearby Words

brawny
bray
brayed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bray. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bray

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bray

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All