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brays 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bray
as in grinds
to reduce to fine particles bray the seeds using a mortar and pestle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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brays

2 of 2

noun

plural of bray
as in bleats

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 brays
Verb
The villas are new but already feel ancient (in the best possible way), pitched in a jumble of sugarcane fields, date palms, and donkey brays bellowing from the adjoining farm. — Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brays
  1. grinds
  2. bleats
  3. pounds
  4. barks
  5. crushes
  6. cackles
  7. beats
  8. yaps
Verb
  • The annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country’s most important academic event, grinds the nation to almost a halt to ensure the smooth administration of the exam.
    — Lim Hui Jie,Miko Jang, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Finance ministers and central bank officials of G20 countries convene in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday as the US-Iran war grinds into its sixth month, raising inflation expectations and keeping energy prices elevated.
    — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of grinds
Noun
  • 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
  • The real money to be made from the president’s online bleats isn’t in knowing what the US government is going to do.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of bleats
Verb
  • Higher prices come as Ukraine pounds Russian refineries, forcing Moscow to ban diesel exports.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Part of the problem is that every summer, water pounds down on sidewalks in the Treasure Valley, drops rippling on glassy reflective surfaces, all because of sprinkler jets overshooting the grass and landing on pavement.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounds
Noun
  • In the other, barking fell from 317 barks per hour to 53, an 83% reduction.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Past research has shown that dogs can distinguish between words, male and female voices, other barks and even different languages.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of barks
Verb
  • Detailed in the script, Carrie crushes the spewing water pipes with her mind, but the folks manning the on-and-off switches aren’t yet in sync.
    — Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
  • An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 crashes off the runway and crushes a vehicle west of Miami International Airport in Miami onSept.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of crushes
Noun
  • The doc is similarly unflinching in showing the horrific scene from 1900 in which Donald Sutherland’s sadistic fascist murders a young boy in a shockingly callous way, while Laura Betti as his equal in cruelty dissolves into blood-curdling cackles.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Her performance presents as camp, but her dynamic range of loud cackles and quiet glances is fabulous.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of cackles
Verb
  • Reacher beats mercenaries about the head with a bowling pin and a bowling trophy.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The Minnesota Vikings, the newest NFL franchise, beats the league’s oldest franchise, the Chicago Bears, 37-13 win in the season opener.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of beats
Noun
  • There was a riot of noise, the yaps and yelps of a hound pack fighting an animal on the ground.
    — Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of yaps

Browse Nearby Words

braying
brays
brazen
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Cite this Entry

“Brays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brays. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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