PLIED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

plied 1 of 2

verb (1)

past tense of ply

as in exerted

to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively she plied all of her charm and intelligence to convince everyone to volunteer as tutors

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plied

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of ply

as in twisted

to cause to twine about one another two single yarns were plied together to get the fabric that smooth, firm feel

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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 plied

Verb

Tsietsi sent one of them to the front as a lookout, while the others eagerly plied him with questions about his activities. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 As Levenson makes clear, these three arguments have been plied for as long as vaccines have. — Diana Gitig, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2026 In Whitman’s time, 70 different steam ferries plied Gotham’s waters. — Julia Press, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026 Davis plied his trade in Reno, Nevada, at a time when the American West was developing into a manufacturing hub at breakneck speed. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 May 2026 While virtually every other draftable player was in a power conference this year, Graves plied his trade for the third-place team in the West Coast Conference. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 15 May 2026 But Venegas’ parents were artists above all — photographers specifically, a trade now plied by Yvonne — and as such, romantics at heart and in practice. — Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026 Kids — and even adults — plied me with questions about what happened during those three long days of captivity. — Midsi Sanchez, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026 The popular longtime minor-league journeyman plied his trade for the Saints last season. — Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plied

Verb

Texas Tech parted ways with the quarterback after other Big 12 teams exerted pressure on the Red Raiders, who had cleared Sorsby despite a betting scandal that included wagering on his own team at Indiana.

— Cal Phillips Updated July 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Beijing has exerted greater institutional control in Tibet since Xi Jinping became the country's president in 2012.

— Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of exerted

Verb

The wife of friend Isaac Leonard Ellwood suggested that two wires twisted together would hold the nail in place better — and the inexpensive yet effective design stuck.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
The boardwalk was annihilated up and down the peninsula, crushed into pieces and twisted up like a wooden snake.

— Curbed editors, Curbed, 23 June 2026

Definition of twisted

Verb

The Hyundai Motor Company used one of the world’s largest sporting stages to showcase its robotics ambitions.

— Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
For instance, in Berkeley, neighbors used CEQA — citing potential noise impact from partying students — to delay, for years, UC Berkeley’s construction of student dorms on People’s Park.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of used

Verb

South India is the scent of frangipani and coffee, bushels of bananas and coconuts, women with gold nose rings and hair braided with jasmine and mustachioed men in pink with hands on hips.

— Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
Quen Blackwell’s hair is braided and pulled into a delicate updo that adds volume and structure to her look.

— Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 24 June 2026

Definition of braided

Verb

Boston Dynamics said the same AI training methods used to teach Atlas celebratory football movements are also being applied to warehouse automation and manufacturing tasks.

— Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Bollo, the son of a domestic worker and a line cook, said he’s applied to work as a teaching assistant and graduate researcher, which would waive the cost of his tuition.

— Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of applied

Verb

In the next round of Count the Rice, the rice is mixed into a large box full of paper, styrofoam, and other detritus.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Research is mixed on weight loss, promising on circulation and recovery, and cautious about who should avoid the machines altogether.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026

Definition of mixed

Verb

The multi-tasking treatment can also be blended onto the high points of the face for a natural-looking glow.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Both events sought to intertwine the French capital and the biggest event in esports, through official channels and an epic performance that blended the cultures of both communities.

— Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026